Apr 24, 2025; Green Bay, WI, USA; Arizona Wildcats wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan is selected by the Carolina Panthers as the number eight pick in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft at Lambeau Field. Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Carolina Panthers 2025 rookie minicamp: Sights and sounds from Day 1

Originally posted on Carolina Panthers on SI
By Tim Weaver | Last updated May 10, 2025 9:00 AM ET

New recruits for the Carolina Panthers took the field yesterday for the first day of rookie minicamp. It's also the first time that Carolina fans have gotten to see any real local football since January. As you might expect, the star of the show was of course the team's first-round draft pick, wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan out of Arizona.

Going into the draft McMillan was ranked the best wide receiver in the class - not counting uber-ATH Travis Hunter. McMillan has the potential to radically change what Carolina's passing offense can do, and we got to witness some of it through brief clips shared on social media.

Here's a look at McMillan showing off some of what Adam Thielen called "phenomenal" body control, plus a few other videos from the team and beat reporters.

WR Tetairoa McMillan working

WE GOT US ONE YALL

pic.twitter.com/7HWSYKg6e8
— IAmWestsideFetti (@4MR_Fetti) May 9, 2025

TE Mitchell Evans training

Some tight end workouts. Among the group is Mitchell Evans (#84) out of Notre Dame. Fifth round pick the organization loves. pic.twitter.com/KmB6zgYJne
— Alex Zietlow (@alexzietlow05) May 9, 2025

QB Ethan Garbers throwing

Ethan Garbers, the only quarterback here for #Panthers rookie minicamp, throwing routes to future pass-catchers. In this video: Tetairoa McMillan and Jimmy Horn Jr. pic.twitter.com/4qdV5wTVEg
— Alex Zietlow (@alexzietlow05) May 9, 2025

WR Jimmy Horn Jr. route-running

Jimmy Horn Jr with the Apolo Ohno arm swing start.

Guy’s gonna be a 10 time pro bowler
pic.twitter.com/K4KwMsmzAp
— Jeff Mueller, PT, DPT (@jmthrivept) May 10, 2025

HC Dave Canales commenting

#Panthers head coach Dave Canales on seeing the rookie offensive guys in person. “I’ll go play with this group right now.” pic.twitter.com/330si30CCg
— Alex Zietlow (@alexzietlow05) May 9, 2025

WR Tetairoa McMillan talking

Within the first minute of practice today, Tetairoa McMillan was off to the side working with WR coach Rob Moore. Two seem to have already developed a rapport.

On the #Panthers rookie receiver’s connection with his coach: pic.twitter.com/9kNyHh2ht6
— Alex Zietlow (@alexzietlow05) May 9, 2025

While there's no video, it sounds like Horn was the rookie who turned the most heads during this first practice. At least one journalist was blown away by Horn's famed speed.

Holy shiz! Ignore Jimmy Horn’s 40. Dude has juice for days. (Can’t video this period). -#Panthers
— Mike Kaye (@mike_e_kaye) May 9, 2025

The addition of Horn as well as McMillan should give Carolina's wide receiver group a pretty good boost. If 2024 rookies Xavier Legette and Jalen Coker can take that all-important sophomore leap, it might be one of the most-improved units in the NFL this year.

This article first appeared on Carolina Panthers on SI and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: