3 Most Likely Panthers Draft Targets With the No. 8 Pick
The Carolina Panthers took significant steps forward under Dave Canales. They finished with a 5-12 record but missed the playoffs for the seventh straight season.
Despite that, the Panthers have some good things to lean on going into the offseason. After getting benched and returning to the field, Bryce Young took massive steps and showed flashes of being a franchise QB. They also own the No. 8 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
The Panthers could go in multiple different directions with the eighth overall pick. In this exercise, we'll name the three draft targets Carolina could be looking at with their first-round selection.
1. Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona
The Panthers' offense could use more weapons to help Young. Running back Chubba Hubbard's emergence has been terrific to see, which landed him a four-year, $33.2 million extension. They also added Xavier Legette in the 2024 NFL Draft and have Adam Thielen under contract for the 2025 season but he's 34 years old.
They need more juice in the passing attack, and McMillan is someone who could be a great addition to the Panthers.
McMillan owns a big frame (6-foot-5) with outstanding hands and body control. The Hawaii native is a good after-the-catch option and owns the catching radius to be a consistent threat in the red zone.
Arizona WR Tetairoa McMillan has unreal concentration, body control, and play strength. If I need a consistent target for a young QB, I'm taking McMillan pic.twitter.com/PBFDCQCyMU
— Joe DeLeone (@joedeleone) December 5, 2024
Over three college seasons with the Arizona Wildcats, McMillan has 213 catches for 3,423 receiving yards, and 26 touchdowns, including consecutive seasons with 1,300 receiving yards and eight touchdowns.
McMillan is a player that would step in and become the WR1 for the Panthers. He and Legette (6'3) have tremendous size. They would give the Panthers a towering duo at WR for the foreseeable future that can grow with Young.