The Panthers have now made three first- or second-round wide receiver picks in three years, bringing in Jonathan Mingo, Xavier Legette and Tetairoa McMillan. Although McMillan’s arrival could be viewed as an indication of early concern regarding Legette, Bryce Young made a push to have the Arizona WR prospect routed to Charlotte.
Young’s endorsement notwithstanding, the Panthers passed on improving their league-worst defense at No. 8. They circled back to their glaring outside linebacker need by utilizing each their Day 2 picks (Nic Scourton, Princely Umanmielen) on the position, with these picks coming after the team shopped Jadeveon Clowney before the draft. The McMillan pick also emerged resulting from Carolina brass’ view of the draft depth at wide receiver and edge rushers.
Carolina believed this class featured higher Day 2 options on the sting in comparison with wide receiver, based on SI.com’s Albert Breer. This led to the team filling its WR need early while betting it could land edge players soon after. The Panthers did pass on Jalon Walker, whom Breer adds the team had graded highly, to pick McMillan. Ole Miss defensive tackle Walter Nolen also checked in high on the Panthers’ board, per Breer. Those defenders went fifteenth and sixteenth, respectively.
Given the Panthers’ modest approach to replacing Brian Burns last yr, passing on Walker is dangerous. Carolina ranked last in points and yards allowed in 2024, despite its three-win improvement from a dismal 2023, and HC interest in Ejiro Evero — a 2023 and ’24 storyline — dimmed. The Panthers lost their 2025 second-round pick (No. 39), the ultimate asset conveyed within the Young trade, but had picked up No. 57 from the Rams (via the 2024 Braden Fiske swap). The team traded as much as Denver’s No. 51 spot for Scourton, who drew some late-first-round buzz. They then traded up (via the Patriots) to No. 77 for Umanmielen. The team will hope the previous Texas A&M and Purdue edge rusher can hit the bottom running, as Clowney might not be around as a veteran presence.
The Panthers have spoken with multiple teams on Clowney, and GM Dan Morgan didn’t confirm his roster spot. If Clowney is to return, The Athletic’s Joe Person notes his workload will probably be reduced. Clowney played 57% of the Ravens’ defensive snaps in 2023 but 64% of the Panthers’ last season. He finished with 5.5 sacks and 4 pass deflections — each numbers down from 2023. Clowney, 32, did match his Baltimore TFL number (nine) in his first Carolina season. If the previous No. 1 overall pick is to return, he will probably be viewed as a bridge player while the rookies develop alongside free agency addition Patrick Jones. Clowney entering the season as a Panther also would make him a reasonably obvious deadline chip.
As for the Panthers’ McMillan move, it got here because the 49ers and Packers joined the Rams in showing interest. The Cowboys also appeared able to take McMillan at No. 12. The 49ers joined the Rams in attempting to trade up with the Panthers, Breer adds.
Passing on a rumored trade-down maneuver, Carolina had shown increased interest in McMillan because the pre-draft process progressed. A late Zoom meeting with WRs coach Rob Moore helped seal the deal, per Breer, who adds the team’s “30” visit with the 6-foot-4 pass catcher didn’t go as well. McMillan landed in Carolina after a string of meetings elsewhere, potentially contributing to his lack of energy in the course of the team’s in-person visit.
McMillan will team with Legette, Jalen Coker and Adam Thielen as Carolina’s top receivers. So long as Thielen is in the combo, one in all the young players would stand to attract backup reps. It will seem Thielen will probably be tied to trade rumors for a second straight yr.
