Analyst: Panthers WR Tetairoa McMillan primed for huge 2026 season
· Yahoo Sports
The most important offseason for any NFL player is often the one between their rookie and sophomore campaigns. That's the challenge currently facing the Carolina Panthers' No. 1 wideout.
Tetairoa McMillan burst onto the scene in his first pro season. The 2025 first-round pick tallied 70 receptions for 1,014 yards and seven touchdowns en route to being named the AP Offensive Rookie of the Year.
Visit freshyourfeel.com for more information.
If the Panthers and quarterback Bryce Young continue to progress, the sky could be the limit for the 6-foot-5 McMillan. And that's the sentiment from Bleacher Report's Moe Moton, who tabbed Carolina's rising star as one of five second-year receivers primed for a breakout 2026.
Moton writes:
Tetairoa McMillan had a standout rookie season. He caught 70 passes and led the 2025 class with 1,014 receiving yards and seven touchdown receptions. The Carolina Panthers wideout also won 2025 Offensive Rookie of the Year by a wide margin over New Orleans Saints quarterback Tyler Shough. With all that said, McMillan can top his rookie numbers and be a Pro Bowler, an All-Pro or an Offensive Player of the Year candidate if Panthers quarterback Bryce Young continues to make strides in the passing game.
McMillan is already hard at work improving where he needs to, telling reporters earlier this offseason that he's added 10 pounds of muscle, which should help him secure more of those contested catches than he did last year. He has also put in extra time working out with Young to improve their chemistry.
While his target share may drop a bit, given the increasing importance of teammate Jalen Coker, McMillan could benefit from a little less attention. McMillan and Coker are established as the top two targets in the passing game—with 2024 first-rounder Xavier Legette and 2026 third-rounder Chris Brazzell II among the offense's additional weapons.
Follow @ThePanthersWire on Twitter/X for more Panthers content.
This article originally appeared on Panthers Wire: Analyst: Panthers WR Tetairoa McMillan primed for huge 2026 season