At just 22 years old, Tetairoa McMillan is poised to make a big impact in his rookie season with the Carolina Panthers. The team is looking for ways to strengthen Bryce Young’s offense after a tough 2023 campaign in which they won only five games.
With McMillan’s addition and Young’s continued development, the Panthers hope to turn things around. McMillan’s arrival has created excitement, especially after veteran wide receiver Adam Thielen praised his natural ability and intelligence.
As the team heads into the 2025 season, there’s optimism that these changes will help Carolina compete in a tough division.
Thielen Showers McMillan With Praise Ahead of Rookie Season
Adam Thielen recently sat down for an exclusive interview with PFSN, where he had nothing but great things to say about the team’s newest wide receiver. Thielen’s experience and leadership are key for the Panthers, and his endorsement of McMillan carries weight in the locker room.
Other than their 36–22 win over the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 3, all of the Panthers’ wins last season were by six points or less. Three of their five victories came in close games, and they won in overtime against the New York Giants in Week 10, against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 15, and against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 17.
Benching Young was a bold decision, but it clearly helped him get back to full strength. Young is set to be the starter again in 2025, with Andy Dalton remaining as the primary backup.
The Panthers’ offense struggled last season, especially after Thielen went down with a hamstring injury. He missed most of the year, but even in just 10 games, Thielen remained the team’s leading receiver. Rookie Xavier Legette stepped up during Thielen’s absence, and now Young has another promising target in McMillan.
Tetairoa McMillan’s release and speed at his size (6’5”, 220 lbs) looks SUPERNATURAL.
McMillan’s body control and quickness have reportedly “blown away” some of his teammates and coaches early on.
McMillan has reportedly already won “his fair share of battles” against Jaycee… pic.twitter.com/viUnCV7oQ3
— NFL Rookie Watch (@NFLRookieWatxh) June 4, 2025
“Mentally, his natural ability to understand the game … I haven’t been around too many guys that it just comes so easily to them this early … the playbook, the little intricacies, the game within the game. That has really stuck out to me,” Thielen said.
He continued, “The same thing on the field, physically, everything just comes very natural to him. He doesn’t have to force anything or do anything that’s kind of out of his comfort zone because it just comes so naturally to him. That’s going to help him have a lot of success. And on top of that, he’s a great human being. So those things created together usually lead to a long career.”
Legette and Thielen remain crucial parts of the offense, but the addition of McMillan could be a game-changer for Young. With Dalton still on the roster, it would be a surprise to see him start any games unless Young is injured.
McMillan enters the league after posting back-to-back 1,000-plus yard seasons in college. He finished his freshman year with 39 receptions for 702 yards, averaging 18 yards per catch.
Arizona quickly recognized his potential, and in his sophomore season, McMillan hauled in 90 catches for a career-high 1,402 yards. He also set a personal best with 10 receiving touchdowns that year. In 2024, he followed that up with 84 receptions for 1,319 yards and eight touchdowns.