Bryce Young and Tetairoa McMillian: The Next Duo in the Carolinas
Throughout the Carolina Panthers’ history, there’s always been some kind of duo that stands amongst the rest. A duo that’s willing to go the absolute distance to get the Panthers a win and put Carolina in position to win it all.
From the DeAngelo Williams/Jonathan Stewart RB tandem to the dominance on defense that Luke Kuechly and Thomas Davis brought, and who can ever forget the connection that Cam Newton and Greg Olsen had during the 2015 Super Bowl run. In this new generation of Carolina football, Bryce Young and 2025 draftee Tetairoa McMillian will be next in line.
Bryce Young’s tenure as a Carolina Panther has been a wild ride. As the number one overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, Young came in with the entire fanbase crowning him as “the guy” for the future. With 10 INTS, while being sacked 62 times and ending his rookie season 2-15, that was not the best impression to leave.
To bounce back from that season, after two games, Carolina chose to bench Young (which left a bad taste in many fans’ mouths) and wondered about his future with the team. Now in his third season, Young has a franchise receiver that he’ll automatically connect with for the time being.
As an Arizona Wildcat standout, McMillian was widely recruited and named one of the best wide receivers coming into the 2025 NFL Draft. On April 25, 2025, with the 8th pick, the Carolina Panthers selected him to be the next piece as the rebuild continues for this franchise. There’s plenty to be excited for with T-Mac’s entrance. With an aging Adam Thelein as WR1, it was the right choice to bring in a young receiver to take the mantle alongside Xavier Legette.
Panther fans saw a glimpse of what Young and T-Mac can do together during their game against the Browns. Young’s beautiful 13-yard pass to McMillian made fans jump out of their seats in amazement. Wonder what else they can do later in the year? This season will by far be Bryce’s best one yet, and McMillian has an opportunity to be in the running for Offensive Rookie of the Year. For it all to happen, they both need the other.