The shifty route
Adam Thielen.
The Panthers will likely be seeking wide receiver help during the offseason. While Tee Higgins is a name often mentioned, he may be too expensive. Personally, I've never been a fan of spending big money in free agency. It often feels like many players don’t live up to the hype.
Instead, the team could turn to the draft. Tetairoa McMillan (Tet McMillan) is a popular choice at No. 8 in many mock drafts. As someone on the East Coast, I didn’t watch much Arizona football, so I don’t have a fully formed opinion of him. He seems to have the traits of a solid prospect, but I’ve seen concerns about his ability to separate at the line of scrimmage—a skill Steve Smith always emphasized as critical for success.
Another option could be moving back a few spots to draft Luther Burden. While Burden doesn’t have McMillan’s physical size, he appears more NFL-ready and could contribute sooner. That said, rookie wide receivers often need time to develop. Xavier Legette struggled this year despite being a first-round pick, and I’d argue he was more of a second-round talent. It felt like the team panicked with that late Thursday-night selection.
For what it’s worth, I’ve been vocal about wanting Ladd McConkey back in 2024. I followed his career at Georgia closely. His route-running was phenomenal, and his value skyrocketed after his faster-than-expected combine performance.
Right now, the Panthers’ wide receiver corps consists of Adam Thielen, Xavier Legette, and Jalen Coker. While there’s room for improvement, expecting a rookie to come in and save the day is overly optimistic. If the Panthers decide to use the No. 8 pick on a wide receiver, I wouldn’t be upset—it’s a position of need. That said, they could go in many directions at No. 8, and most of them could be justified.
Final Thought
I would not be upset with a first-round wideout. However, if they don’t pull the trigger in Round 1, I implore them to wait until Round 3. Think about all the misses in Round 2—Keary Colbert, Dwayne Jarrett, and more recently Terrace Marshall Jr. and Jonathan Mingo. Maybe it’s not the players or the team, but I don’t want to try that route again.