All Panthers

Analyst advises Panthers to find their Mike Evans in 2025 NFL draft

Can Carolina finally land Bryce Young a true No. 1 target?
Schuyler Callihan|
Nov 30, 2024; Tucson, Arizona, USA; Arizona Wildcats wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan (4) against the Arizona State Sun Devils during the Territorial Cup at Arizona Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Nov 30, 2024; Tucson, Arizona, USA; Arizona Wildcats wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan (4) against the Arizona State Sun Devils during the Territorial Cup at Arizona Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

In this story:

Carolina Panthers

Finding playmakers for QB Bryce Young remains a top priority for the Carolina Panthers this offseason along with fixing all of the issues on the defensive side of the ball.

While most mock draft projections have Carolina taking a defensive player with the eighth overall pick (or in trade-back scenarios), they could make a move to land one of the top wide receivers in this class.

Moe Moton of Bleacher Report offered his one piece of advice for GM Dan Morgan heading into April. "In Bryce Young's crucial third season, you want Tetairoa McMillan to be his Mike Evans," Moton said while suggesting McMillan be the Panthers' first-round selection.

Early on in the draft process, McMillan was tabbed as a top-10 pick and the guy who would likely be the first receiver off of the board. As teams dived deeper into his tape and met with him at the NFL Combine, his draft stock has slipped ever so slightly. Teams still believe he can have an immediate impact as a rookie and have a stellar career, but he's not as polished of a product as top receivers in recent drafts have been.

If Carolina were to draft McMillan, it would almost certainly come in a trade-back scenario, which is something Dan Morgan is open to doing. The more cracks the Panthers get at the plate, the better the odds are of them fixing their top-line defensive issues and their depth across the board.

In three years at Arizona, McMillan caught 213 passes for 3,423 yards and 26 touchdowns.

- Enjoy more free Panthers coverage with Carolina Panthers on SI - 

Panthers linked to veteran trade target who’d finally replace Ian Thomas

Ranking Bryce Young & the rest of the NFC South starting quarterbacks

Panthers roster gets awful ranking after first wave of NFL free agency

2025 NFL draft: Panthers met ‘at length’ with breakout EDGE prospect

Published
Schuyler Callihan
SCHUYLER CALLIHAN

Schuyler Callihan is the publisher of West Virginia On SI and has been a trusted source covering the Mountaineers since 2016. He is the host of Between The Eers, The Walk Thru Game Day Show, and In the Gun Podcast. The Wheeling, WV native moved to Charlotte, North Carolina in 2020 to cover the Charlotte Hornets and Carolina Panthers.

Home/Draft