Photo Credit: AP Photo/Chris Carlson
The Carolina Panthers believe they landed a game-changer in Tetairoa McMillan, the star wide receiver from Arizona who was selected with the No. 8 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. From the moment McMillan’s name was called, excitement surged through the organization—and the locker room.
Second-year wideout Xavier Legette, who Carolina picked 32nd overall in 2024, welcomed the move with open arms. During his first offseason press conference, Legette was all smiles—even when the topic briefly shifted to horse racing, one of his off-field passions.
“I’ve got to get some bloodline from some of the horses that already competed in the Derby if I want to do that,” he said of his long-term goal of competing in the first leg of the Triple Crown.
After a quick explanation about the difference between standardbred and thoroughbred horses, Legette shifted back to football. And he made it clear he’s thrilled about teaming up with McMillan.
“We’re trying to win games,” Legette said. “Anytime you add a masterpiece like that to what we’re trying to build, that’s great.”
Instead of feeling pressure from the pick, Legette was just as excited as quarterback Bryce Young, who called McMillan “a great pick.”
“I feel like it’s going to be a problem either way,” Legette said of whether he or McMillan will become the No. 1 receiver. “I wouldn’t necessarily say it’s a one or two. Defenses are going to have to deal with both sides.”
Young agreed, saying the offense will benefit from having both receivers on the field.
“Within the system there are so many wrinkles and so many little things that we can build off each other,” Young said.
New Year, New Energy
Legette’s rookie season had its struggles, just like Young’s first year as the No. 1 pick in 2023. Young faced more questions in 2024 after a rough start that included being benched after an 0-2 beginning and poor stats. But he bounced back in the second half of the season and now enters Year 3 with more confidence—and support from the team.
Head coach Dave Canales believes having McMillan and Legette on the field together will help Young take a big step forward in 2025. He saw early signs of progress during Tuesday’s OTA session when the team ran 11-on-11 drills for the first time.
“There were some great plays out there, some great timing on the throws, but also just the level of comfort we talked about with the offense, knowing the words, making the tweaks and being a part of that process,” Canales said. “We want it to become the Bryce Young offense, become this collective thing and get the chemistry going.”
Legette Focused on Growth
Young said he already sees more confidence in Legette, especially in how he catches the ball. Last season, Legette struggled with drops—seven total—and had a catch rate of just 58.3%, among the lowest in the NFL.
“Me getting open, that wasn’t a problem,” Legette said. “It was just really honing in to really catching the ball on the dropped passes.”
After foot surgery earlier this offseason, Legette seems quicker and more energized. Canales said he can “feel the joy” in Legette’s approach.
“What I see is a year into the system, just the speed that he’s playing with now, the level of comfort he has with what we’re doing,” Canales said. “When I see him smiling, I know he’s in a good space.”
Canales also praised how well Legette and McMillan have clicked so far.
“It’s a great fit,” he said. “Even routes on air. They’ll catch a ball, put it away, burst and then they’re looking for the other one and throwing it across the field and playing catch.”
A Boost for Young
Young now has two big targets—Legette is 6-foot-3, 227 pounds and McMillan is 6-foot-5, 212. Add in sixth-round speedster Jimmy Horn Jr. and veteran Adam Thielen, and Carolina has a much stronger receiver group than in recent years.
“It’s a really dynamic group,” Young said.
Young is especially impressed with McMillan’s size and hands.
“He’s super smooth, has supernatural hands, great catch radius,” Young said. “It’s super friendly to the quarterback, which is always nice.”
That’s exactly why the Panthers used their top pick on McMillan instead of fixing a defense that ranked last in the league in 2024. The team also made sure to talk with Legette before the draft, making it clear that the move wasn’t about replacing him.
Even defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero is seeing the benefits in practice.
“I know that’s going to certainly put a lot of pressure on opponents, and that’s going to make us better [as a defense] as we work through the offseason working against them,” Evero said.
It all plays into what Canales wants: an offense led by Young, filled with talent, and built on teamwork—not egos.
“We all have that same goal,” Young said. “We just want to win offensively, we want to score and, as a team, do whatever it takes to win.”
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This report used information from ESPN.
