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Yahoo
an hour ago
- General
- Yahoo
Panthers QB Bryce Young breaks out new look at Monday's OTAs
After a busy and exciting offseason, the Carolina Panthers are heading into the 2025 campaign with a new-look team. They also might be going in with a new-look quarterback—and we're not talking about a change at the position. The Panthers returned to the practice field on Monday, for the fourth session of this year's team organized activities. And while we didn't hear from the coaches or players before or following the outing, we did come away with at least one interesting nugget from the afternoon—this photo of a fully-bearded quarterback Bryce Young: This isn't the first time Young has broke out a different look during an installment of OTAs. He showed up last May with quite a bit more muscle than he had in his rookie season. Advertisement Here's a side-by-side of Young in his final game of 2023 and at OTAs last spring: Getty Images/Panthers But is the beard, like the bulk, here to stay? Perhaps we'll find out tomorrow . . . Follow @ThePanthersWire on Twitter/X for more Panthers content. This article originally appeared on Panthers Wire: Panthers QB Bryce Young breaks out new look at Monday's OTAs
USA Today
9 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Nick Wright says he'd feel bad 'ripping' Panthers QB Bryce Young because of his size
Nick Wright says he'd feel bad 'ripping' Panthers QB Bryce Young because of his size The skepticism regarding the size of Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young never has, and probably never will, go away. FOX Sports' Nick Wright was the latest talking head to offer his two cents on the stature of the 5-foot-10, 204-pound passer. While breaking down the state of the NFC South on a recent episode of First Things First, Wright insinuated that people hold back on their criticism of Young due to his measurables. Take a listen . . . Concerns about Young's build are, of course, nothing new. Despite being widely considered and selected as the No. 1 overall prospect of the 2023 NFL draft, the former Heisman Trophy winner has been doubted for that very reason since entering the pros. Young, however, doesn't seem to be bothered by that talk—as he stated back in February on the Dan Patrick Show. "I don't mind, at all," Young said of the jokes about his size. "I've seen some, like, hilarious stuff about my height. Like, it's fine. Again, I'm used to it. I embrace it. "But I only know one way to play football. So I've never had to adjust, I've never had to, like, 'Okay, dang, this is way different now.' This is just how I know how to play the game." He played the game awfully well in the final 10 outings of this past season—where he threw for 2,104 yards while totaling 20 touchdowns and only six interceptions. Young, even with his "limitations," also finished the year with just one batted pass—the fewest among all quarterbacks with at least 200 passing attempts in 2024. So don't feel bad, Nick—because Bryce certainly doesn't. Follow @ThePanthersWire on Twitter/X for more Panthers content.
New York Times
16 hours ago
- Entertainment
- New York Times
What makes Panthers WR Tetairoa McMillan special? Breaking down rookie's college film
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Tetairoa McMillan didn't need much of a break-in period after arriving at Arizona in 2022, and there are strong signs to suggest his transition from college to the NFL will be just as seamless. After pulling in eight touchdowns and leading all FBS freshmen in receiving, McMillan thought he had the skill set to play in the NFL. A couple of years and 2,700 receiving yards later, McMillan arrived in the league as the No. 8 pick of the Carolina Panthers, who prioritized giving Bryce Young another playmaker over adding to a defense that finished last in the league in 2024. Advertisement Young has been a fan of McMillan's since their high school teams met in 2019, and after bumping into McMillan at a training facility in Southern California before the draft, Young talked up McMillan to Panthers coach Dave Canales and general manager Dan Morgan. Among other things, Young was impressed with McMillan's ability to high point the ball. 'That's something that definitely jumped out on film throughout all the draft stuff, versus air and even (during OTAs). You could definitely see that,' Young said. 'Super smooth, has super natural hands. Great catch radius (and) super friendly to the quarterback, which is always nice.' McMillan has areas he needs to work on as he makes the jump to the pros, including his blocking and getting off physical press coverage. He's already looking to the veterans in the Panthers' receivers room for help. 'God has blessed me with a bunch of things. But I'm always looking to improve my game, especially in that room right now with Hunter Renfrow, Adam Thielen and guys like those, just the vet guys,' McMillan said. 'I look at them to kinda steal certain moves, certain things that they do to get open and create separation. Kinda just add that to my game.' Given his long frame, sure hands and deceptive quickness, McMillan's game looks NFL-ready. Part of McMillan's appeal at 6-foot-4, 219 pounds is his ability to sink and explode like a 5-11, 180-pounder — a big guy who can move like a small guy. The above clip shows off a little bit of everything McMillan brings as a receiver who can get open quickly underneath while also keeping plays alive for his quarterback. Notice how he's able to win inside, sink and sell a whip route back to the sideline without issue, before exploding upfield with one eye back on his QB. When he sees the quarterback is in trouble, McMillan slams on the brakes and fires back toward the football, then plucks the ball effortlessly. Advertisement Reps like this are all over McMillan's college tape. He was constantly working back toward the ball on scramble drills and adjusting to off-target throws while still staying in position to make yards after the catch (he ranked third among FBS receivers last year with 28 forced missed tackles). Panthers receivers coach Rob Moore believes critics underestimate McMillan's efficiency as an athlete. 'I think we can get overly enamored with speed and some of these other things,' Moore said. 'But he doesn't take a lot of false steps or bad steps. He keeps his feet up underneath him. You don't see him on the ground a whole lot. He plays with really good balance. So I think his short-area quickness is very good for someone that's 6-4, almost 6-5, and 220 pounds.' Much of the scouting focus on McMillan in the pre-draft process was about how big a threat he can be downfield and in the air. And though that's true, it overlooks the subtle parts of his athleticism that could make him more than just a 'big-play guy.' McMillan is great at the little things when it comes to route adjustments and finding ways to get open if something's not perfect. He's fearless over the middle and was always an option, even when he was the second or third receiver in a concept. The term 'quarterback-friendly' is often used to describe players who make the QB's job easier. McMillan qualifies. 'T-Mac does a phenomenal job of being friendly to your quarterback in every route he runs,' Panthers offensive coordinator Brad Idzik said. 'You talk about shaving the top of routes on in breaks to out breaks, and being a hands catcher — he does a great job in that right.' During his time at Arizona, McMillan had to deal with more off-target throws than the average high-volume receiver. Among players with at least 70 receptions last season, McMillan ranked No. 2 nationally in off-target reception percentage at 18.5, more than six points higher than the average in that category. Advertisement His balance and body control at his size are off-the-charts good. Those traits help with his ball tracking in the air, but also with his work underneath — he made a ton of catches that would've sailed into the sideline or even the stands on more ordinary receivers. 'The thing that I think separated him was his ball skills, his ability to make contested catches, the timing and body control and all those things that he has,' said Moore, an NFL wideout for 10 seasons and two-time Pro Bowler. 'Any time you have a player that doesn't need space to get open, (that) always bodes well, because this isn't a perfect game and sometimes it's just about making plays on the ball.' McMillan is not a body catcher. He attacks every target with his huge, 10-inch hands and has an elite catch radius, both because of his size and aforementioned body control. McMillan, whose mom was a volleyball player at Eastern Arizona, played volleyball and basketball himself in high school. He believes those sports have helped him as a receiver. 'Whether it's timing, high pointing the ball, body control,' McMillan said, 'being able to translate that to the game has been a huge testament to why I've been so successful for sure.' Unlike many receivers his size, McMillan is very effective against zone coverage, as his suddenness and sharp change of direction are top-notch, almost like that of a basketball player cutting and running off screens. Defensive backs cannot stop covering him because he never stops running, even when a play looks dead. 'He is a true pass catcher,' said Idzik, who was with Canales in Seattle and Tampa Bay. 'He's got the whole route tree under his belt that he can run.' In the above clip, McMillan works the middle of the field from the slot. He completely toys with the safety, showing a standard stop route before exploding behind the defender into open grass for a huge play. This play also shows off how quickly McMillan can transition from making a catch to being in a full-stride sprint. His body control is exceptional for a man his size. This is the type of stuff we see all the time from smaller receivers against zone defenders. Seattle's Jaxon Smith-Njigba has been an artist at it since college, as has Detroit's Amon-Ra St. Brown. Both of those guys stand barely 6 feet tall; McMillan can do these things at 6-4. Part of the discussion about McMillan's unimpressive time in the 40-yard dash (4.53 seconds at his pro day) touched on whether he'd be fast enough off the snap to win consistently against press coverage in the NFL. He worked from the slot plenty in college and, because of Arizona's schedule, didn't get much run versus elite corners. Advertisement Moore, the Panthers' receivers coach, spent part of rookie minicamp working with McMillan on his releases. The veteran assistant said most young receivers' release skills are underdeveloped because they don't face much press coverage in college. McMillan said he saw a lot of press while aligned toward the boundary, but concedes it will be on another level on Sundays. 'The league is different. The DBs play different. They're a lot more physical, so I've just gotta adjust to that,' McMillan said last week during a phone interview. 'I'm always looking to fine-tune my game.' As for McMillan's sprint speed, some examples suggest any concerns might be a bit overblown. Everything about McMillan's game is twitchy, quick and flexible. McMillan's hand speed, despite his long arms, is good enough to get defenders off his chest at the snap. He can stop and change direction on a dime. He can also bend his body and dip himself under a press attempt while maintaining balance and speed to get back into his route. People had similar concerns with Drake London when he was drafted out of USC in 2022. All he's done is catch 241 balls in three seasons, on a team with a QB situation that's been shaky at best. Athletically, McMillan and London are great comps. Blocking was arguably the biggest hole in McMillan's game at Arizona. He wasn't asked to block a ton, but he also wasn't very effective and showed too many examples of average (or below-average) effort when he was. In general, McMillan's 2024 season, despite his 84 catches for 1,319 yards and eight touchdowns, featured plenty of frustrating moments. His effort when he was an obvious decoy or being deployed as a blocker could be subpar, and his body language when things weren't going well (the Wildcats followed a 10-win 2023 season with a 4-8 record in 2024) was concerning. Advertisement He's acknowledged this, admitting he has to be better in those situations. McMillan also needs to continue working with Carolina's strength staff, because his lower body has always been slender and could impact his physical ceiling. But McMillan also didn't miss a game at Arizona, so with added power and seasoning, he could be a dominant No. 1 receiver in the NFL. McMillan has been a pro for a little more than a month, with only a handful of non-padded practices under his belt. But the Panthers are bullish on his abilities and envision him thriving as a favorite target for Young for years to come. Much like he goes after the ball, McMillan isn't backing away from those expectations. 'It's hard to tell now. But I've gotten this far,' he said. 'I feel like God has blessed me with a bunch of gifts and talents and opportunities. I'm just trying to take it as far as I possibly can, man.'
USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Panthers 2024 Pro Bowl CB Jaycee Horn tabbed as team's 'bounce-back candidate' for 2025
Panthers 2024 Pro Bowl CB Jaycee Horn tabbed as team's 'bounce-back candidate' for 2025 Which Carolina Panthers player is primed to bounce back here in 2025? Well, what about one of their two Pro Bowlers from 2024? (Yup, you read that correctly.) Pro Football Focus contributor Dalton Wasserman recently named one bounce-back candidate for each NFL team, and tabbed cornerback Jaycee Horn for the Panthers. So, yes, even despite securing the first Pro Bowl selection of his career this past season, the fifth-year defender still has room to improve. Wasserman explains: Horn's 2024 season had its ups and downs. On the positive side, he played over 1,000 snaps for the first time in his career and earned a team-high 80.9 run-defense grade. However, he also posted a career-low 59.1 coverage grade. He wasn't helped by a defense that ranked near the bottom of the league across the board. The improvement of his supporting cast — including the addition of safety Tre'Von Moehrig — should benefit Horn as much as anyone. As noted by Wasserman, Horn's 59.1 coverage grade was the worst of his four-year tenure. He earned a 67.4 grade over three games as a rookie in 2021, a 73.2 in 2022 and an 83.0 in 2023. Horn did, however, play in a career-high 15 games in 2024—perhaps the most valuable stat given his early injury history. That availability helped him notch a few more bests in combined tackles (68), tackles for a loss (five), sacks (2.0) and passes defensed (13). Follow @ThePanthersWire on Twitter/X for more Panthers content.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Biggest takeaways from the start of Panthers' 2025 OTAs
The Carolina Panthers seemingly got what they wanted out of the first session of team organized activities this afternoon. In fact, head coach Dave Canales went as far as describing the outing as a "great day." We also, even in this lighter stage of the offseason, learned quite a few interesting things about the current state of the squad. Advertisement Here are the biggest takeaways from the start of this year's OTAs . . . The recovery of Derrick Brown moves along Eight months after undergoing season-ending meniscus surgery, defensive lineman Derrick Brown appeared on the practice field with his helmet in hand. And although he did not end up participating in team drills, the Pro Bowler's presence feels like a positive sign moving forward. Brown talked about his recovery last month. "Just doing what the doctors and the trainers are allowing me to do at this point. No rush," he said back on Apr. 23. "Just trying to get back and I would like to be able to be there when the team gets ready to play in September. So I'm following the protocol as is." Carolina's young tight ends will have to step up Unlike Brown, tight end Tommy Tremble probably isn't planning on being ready for September. Advertisement Canales revealed that Tremble, who signed a new two-year deal this spring, recently underwent back surgery. "Tommy did have surgery on his back last week, a successful surgery," Canales stated. "We were kinda thinking about it, talking about it, looking at timelines and all that and just felt like for him . . . he's 25 years old. Let's get this thing while he's young and strong and be able to get him back on the right track. So we just decided to do that now, looking forward." A team spokesperson later added that Tremble is expected to be rehabbing by the time training camp rolls around, putting his early-season availability into considerable doubt. If Tremble is not good to go by Week 1, the Panthers may be looking for something extra out 2024 fourth-round pick Ja'Tavion Sanders and 2025 fifth-round pick Mitchell Evans. Hunter Renfrow continues his comeback Canales also spoke about veteran wide receiver Hunter Renfrow, who hasn't played an NFL down since 2023. Advertisement "You see weekly, he just makes these huge strides, just getting his feet under him," Canales stated. "And I can tell too, just having coached wide receivers especially, but he's got a lot in his game. Releases, top-of-the-route setup, avoidance, different things where he can double up stuff at the top of his routes. Renfrow, 29, missed the entire 2024 campaign due to a battle with ulcerative colitis. The Panthers signed the Myrtle Beach, S.C. native and Clemson University product in late April. Xavier Legette looks to bounce back Wideout Xavier Legette didn't have the finest stretches to end his rookie campaign. But with one season of NFL ball under Legette's belt and a fellow first-round receiver now by his side, Canales is hoping for a leap out of the second-year pass catcher. Advertisement "What I see is a year into the system," Canales stated. "Just the speed that he's playing with now, with the level of comfort he has with what we're doing. When I see him smiling, I know he's in a good space. And he really has just been enjoying this offseason. Working hard. He looks big and fast. "And I think with TMac [Tetairoa McMillan] coming into the room, again, it's just options," Canales later added. "It opens things up, it creates a little bit of balance—where the field doesn't tilt one way or the other. So you have two guys who can make it happen outside and that's a good thing." After taking Legette with the 32nd overall pick in 2024, the Panthers nabbed McMillan with this year's eighth overall pick. Locking horns in Houston The Panthers, as they'd hoped, were able to set up a joint practice with the Houston Texans for later this summer. That workout will come before the teams face off in the second week of the preseason at NRG Stadium on Aug. 16. Advertisement Carolina also has a joint practice slated with the Cleveland Browns, their first opponent for exhibition play. Follow @ThePanthersWire on Twitter/X for more Panthers content. This article originally appeared on Panthers Wire: Panthers 2025 OTAs: Biggest takeaways from Day 1
