Bryce Young and Tetairoa McMillan might not be enough to help the Carolina Panthers make the playoffs again.
The Carolina Panthers made the playoffs last season behind Bryce Young and Tetairoa McMillan. They won the NFC South and played well against the Los Angeles Rams in the wild-card round at home, losing by a final score of 34-31.
Carolina is expected to make the playoffs again next season, but should they? One NFL analyst is already tempering expectations for the Panthers.
"Another full year for Bryce Young and Tetairoa McMillan is worth some excitement, but is this really a team that has earned our attention just yet?" Brad Gagnon of Bleacher Report wrote.
Even though the Panthers won the NFC South title last season, they finished with a sub-.500 record and needed help in Week 18 to win the division. So, head coach Dave Canales must prove that his team didn't just benefit from playing in the league's weakest division.
The only way the Panthers will make the playoffs again next season is if Young takes his game to another level. The former No. 1 overall pick finished the 2025 season with 3,011 passing yards, 23 passing touchdowns, 11 interceptions, 216 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns.
Young enters next season with 8,291 passing yards, 49 passing touchdowns, 30 interceptions, 718 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns in a Carolina uniform. He's 14-30-0 as a starter.
If Young plays well next season, he will likely get an extension next offseason. However, if Young underperforms in 2026, he could get traded.
The Panthers recently picked up the fifth-year option on Young's contract, but Carolina is not expected to sign the QB to an extension this offseason.
Young is set to make $12.1 million next season in the fourth year of his rookie deal. His fifth-year option is worth a guaranteed $25.9 million.
The good news is that Young has a No. 1 WR to throw to. McMillan led all rookies last 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.
McMillan caught 70 balls in 2025 for 1,014 receiving yards and seven touchdowns.
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