The Carolina Panthers found a good one in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft, taking Tetairoa McMillan. As a rookie, McMillan went on to become the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t some clear room for improvement.
With the offseason program underway, McMillan met with reporters on Tuesday. There, he shared that he made a big change this offseason, working hard to gain weight. In fact, he managed to put on more than 10 lbs as he’s working to get back to his ideal weight.
“Just getting my strength and my power back,” McMillan said. “People don’t know, but I was the same weight my rookie year as I was my freshman year of college. I wasn’t used to playing that small. I felt pretty weak.”
Same weight he was as a freshman at Arizona. “I couldn’t get my weight back.”
Said he put back on 10+ lbs this offseason, closer to his “ideal weight”
McMillan would share that he played last season around 205 lbs, but he’s more comfortable sitting around 215 to 220 lbs. That’s where he was at in college, after all, which makes him confident this won’t hurt his speed but help his strength.
“The weight that I’m at now is the weight I’d normally been at in college,” McMillan said. “So, I’m kind of just used to it. Got my power back, which allows me to be faster and stronger. So, my focus was more in the weight room. Strength, diet, stuff like that.”
Tetairoa McMillan had a Phenomenal Rookie Season for the Carolina Panthers
GettyCarolina Panthers wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan
It’s impossible to have expected more from Tetairoa McMillan during his rookie season than what he provided to the Carolina Panthers. It was a performance that helped Bryce Young take a step forward as a quarterback and got the Panthers back to the playoffs.
McMillan finished with 70 receptions on 122 targets. That was good for 1,014 yards and 7 touchdowns on 14.5 yards per reception. He would rightly be acknowledged as the Offensive Rookie of the Year for the effort.
That isn’t to say there isn’t room for improvement, though. Notably, McMillan had a catch rate of just 57.4% a season ago. He also had a bit of an issue with dropping the ball, getting credited with eight of them. So, if McMillan is now stronger, he can hope to fight through contact against defensive backs and be stronger with the ball.
The Carolina Panthers are Expected to Add Another Offensive Weapon
GettyCarolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales
It’s no secret that the Carolina Panthers have some need at tight end going into 2026. It’s a spot where, with another weapon for defenses to think about, Bryce Young will have another option and secondaries will have to focus on someone other than Tetairoa McMillan.
The most likely avenue for the Panthers to add a tight end is going to be the NFL Draft. There, they’ve been linked to the likes of Kenyon Sadiq from the Oregon Ducks and then Max Klare from the Ohio State Buckeyes.
Then, of course, there is also still the option to trade for a tight end. Chicago Bears tight end Cole Kmet has become a common rumor. After all, the Bears have less need to keep paying him and the Panthers have the need.
The NFL Draft will open on Thursday, April 23rd. How the Panthers handle business at tight end will be an interesting plotline to follow.
Tetairoa McMillan Reveals Major Change He Made Going into 2026