Anyone who follows the NFL knows that the Carolina Panthers have been out of form for years. The lack of a solid quarterback and a revolving door of coaches is partially to blame. New moves during the 2025 draft and sneak peeks during this offseason are giving some fans hope for a better year. Part of the excitement stems from the developing relationship between Bryce Young and Tetairoa McMillan.
Panthers fans look back fondly on the 2015 season. Cam Newton was leading the team, with the season ending 15-1. They dominated against the Seahawks during the divisional playoffs and easily won against the Cardinals to secure the NFC title. While the team did lose Super Bowl 50 to the Broncos, it’s one of the final highlights fans have to look back on. A change in coaching staff with the departure of Ron Rivera seemed to send the team into a tailspin.
Newton played with Rivera for a few years after the Super Bowl trip. During that time, the Panthers seemed to be contenders for the playoffs several times. That was especially true in 2017, before the team lost in the wild-card game against the Saints. The team separated from Rivera in the middle of the 2019 season after a string of losses. Perry Fewell would continue that losing season before Matt Rhule was given the head coach position in 2020. The change in head coach also meant changes to fan favorites.
Many fans view the departure of Newton as the moment when the Panthers stopped being a Super Bowl team. He was officially released in March of 2020 after sitting out most of the 2019 season because of injuries. It’s unclear what exactly led to his departure from the team. Rhule had stated that he was ready to get Newton back, but then reversed course. This marks the start of Carolina’s inability to pick a starting quarterback.
Several quarterbacks went through Bank of America Stadium before Young became QB1. The most notable names are Baker Mayfield, who now plays for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Sam Darnold, who is now with the Seahawks. Both players had losing records in Carolina, with Newton even making a short comeback to help put the team on the right path in 2021. Darnold continued for a second season, joined by Mayfield. They were both gone by 2023. This period also marks the end of Rhule in Carolina, when he was released halfway through the 2022 season.
The Panthers were able to trade their way up to the first overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. The team, now being led by Frank Reich, picked Young. He had made a name for himself as a record-breaking quarterback at the University of Alabama. While Young had success in Alabama, that didn’t immediately translate into the NFL. Since joining the team in 2023, Young has only recorded six wins. His performance did start to improve last year, when first-year head coach Dave Canales took charge. He’s being credited for some of the hope going into this upcoming season.
The Panthers seemed to go into the 2025 draft with the plan to find someone Young could truly work beside. They set their sights on McMillan, or T-Mac. The number eight pick has several accolades of his own from his time at the University of Arizona. He broke Arizona’s receiving record with 304 yards on ten catches. He didn’t waste any time getting to know his team, working with Young while they were both home in California. McMillan also brings height and athleticism, something that could help make Carolina a major threat.
Young and McMillan returned to North Carolina to take part in OTAs at the end of May. McMillan is already getting a feel for how Young will play offensively in the upcoming season. Team leaders are pointing to his major success during the combine, including speed and catching ability. Those talents are translating into Carolina play, creating a more targeted offense. They’re also pointing to the connection Young and McMillan have formed as a catalyst for more successful play.
I might sound delusional, but I could see the Panthers having a more successful season this year. Young seemed to get into a groove last year while being mentored by Andy Dalton. If that success continues on the back of a good receiver, there is no reason why the team couldn’t see more than last year’s winning record of four games. The critic in me is also looking back to 2023 when Young was first drafted, and the promises that he would fix the team as the new QB1. It’s also not hard to point out that there isn’t much Carolina could do to be worse.
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