Carolina Panthers QB Bryce Young loves playing with WR Tetairoa McMillan.
The Carolina Panthers have a bright future with QB Bryce Young and WR Tetairoa McMillan leading the way.
Carolina made the playoffs this season for the first time since the 2017 campaign, and even though they lost to the Los Angeles Rams in the Wild Card Round, Young and McMillan showed the NFL world they already have great chemistry, which is scary for the rest of the league.
"TMac, he was him, Young said about McMillan. "He was, he's exactly who he's been. He was elite; he's a special player. He'll be the offensive rookie of the year. I have all the confidence in the world, again, a special guy, stuff you can't teach, and all the stuff that you can, he's working super hard at, he's working to perfect it, and cares about the craft. Again, a special guy. I'm super grateful that he's on the team."
McMillan led all rookies this season in receiving yards (1,014), receiving yards per game (59.6) and touchdown receptions (seven) and ranked third in receptions (70). He broke the Panthers franchise record for most receiving yards by a rookie.
"I think we definitely envisioned what we got, otherwise, I don't think we would have drafted him at No. 8," Panthers GM Dan Morgan said about McMillan during his end-of-the-season press conference. "So, he's done a great job. Just another guy that comes in, he works, attention to detail, and it shows out on the field on Sundays."
McMillan caught 70 balls this season for 1,014 yards and seven touchdowns. In the Panthers' Wild Card loss to the Los Angeles Rams, McMillan had five catches for 81 yards.
McMillan won the Rookie of the Week award back in Week 6 after scoring his first two touchdowns of his rookie year in the Panthers' win over the Dallas Cowboys. He is also currently one of the favorites to be nominated for the NFL Associated Press Offensive Rookie of the Year award.
Young had 3,011 passing yards and 23 passing touchdowns in the regular season. Carolina has already picked up the fifth-year option on Young.
It will be fascinating to see how the Panthers perform next season with Young and McMillan leading the offense in Year 3 of the Dave Canales era.