The breakout season for Panthers rookie wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan just keeps getting better. After a year that turned heads across the league, McMillan has been named a finalist for the Associated Press Offensive Rookie of the Year Award - and frankly, it’s hard to argue with that decision.
Let’s break down why.
McMillan didn’t just flash potential - he produced, consistently and in big moments. He led all rookies in receiving yards (1,014), receiving yards per game (59.6), and touchdown receptions (seven).
He also finished third among rookies in total receptions with 70. Those numbers aren’t just impressive for a first-year player - they’re franchise-best.
McMillan now holds the Panthers’ rookie record for most receiving yards in a single season.
And it wasn’t just about racking up stats in meaningless games. McMillan showed up when it mattered.
In Carolina’s Wild Card showdown against the Los Angeles Rams, he pulled in five catches for 81 yards. The Panthers may have come up short, but McMillan’s performance on the playoff stage was a national reminder of just how polished and dangerous he already is.
His breakout moment came back in Week 6, when he introduced himself to the league in a big way - hauling in his first two career touchdowns in a win over the Dallas Cowboys. That earned him Rookie of the Week honors and put him firmly on the radar as one of the league’s most promising young playmakers.
Carolina’s return to the postseason - their first since 2017 - was fueled in large part by the chemistry between McMillan and quarterback Bryce Young. And if you ask Young, the connection is just getting started.
“TMac, he was him,” Young said after their playoff loss. “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 cares about the craft.
I’m super grateful that he’s on the team.”
Young himself had a strong sophomore campaign, finishing the regular season with 3,011 passing yards and 23 touchdowns - a clear step forward in his development. Carolina has already exercised his fifth-year option, signaling full confidence in him as the franchise quarterback moving forward.
The Panthers’ offense is starting to take shape under head coach Dave Canales, now heading into his third season. With Young under center and McMillan quickly becoming a go-to weapon on the outside, Carolina’s future on that side of the ball is starting to look legitimately dangerous.
McMillan, the No. 8 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft out of Arizona, came into the league with high expectations - and he’s already exceeding them. With his size, route-running ability, and knack for making plays in traffic, he’s the kind of receiver who could be a fixture in Pro Bowl conversations for years to come.
The Offensive Rookie of the Year will be announced on February 5. Whether McMillan takes home the hardware or not, one thing’s clear: the Panthers have found their guy.