Tetairoa McMillan has future star written all over him.
According to Pro Football Focus, the reason for optimism for the Carolina Panthers in 2026 centers on second-year WR Tetairoa McMillan.
McMillan won the 2025 Offensive Rookie of the Year award. He's expected to be even better in 2026 since he got stronger this offseason.
"Wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan made an immediate impact in his first NFL season, leading all rookie wide receivers in receiving grade (79.2) and trailing only Chicago Bears wide receiver Luther Burden III with an average of 1.85 yards per route run," Pro Football Talk wrote. "McMillan quickly established himself as Bryce Young’s favorite target, with his 126 targets across the regular season and playoffs twice as many as any other player on the Panthers’ roster."
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.
In the Panthers' wild-card loss to the Los Angeles Rams, McMillan had five catches for 81 yards, showing off his skills on national TV.
Carolina made the playoffs last season for the first time since the 2017 campaign, and even though they lost to Los Angeles, Young and McMillan showed the NFL world they already have significant chemistry, which is scary for the rest of the league.
"Coming into the season and just coming into the league, I was pretty confident in my abilities and what I could do," McMillan said. "None of that was a surprise to me. I always try to strive to be the best possible player that I can be and I knew that stuff like Rookie of the Year and all that wasn't too far and I knew that I was capable of achieving those things."
McMillan finished last season at 205 pounds. Even though he had an incredible campaign, the youngster felt "weak" at times.
That's why McMillan focused on his diet and the weight room over the last few months.
"Just getting my strength and my power back," McMillan said. "I wasn't used to playing that small. I felt pretty weak. I didn't have my power back, so that was pretty much the main focus this offseason for me."
It will be fascinating to see how McMillan and the Panthers perform in 2026. They will no longer be under the radar after making the playoffs in 2025.
