NFL Crystal Ball: Bright Rookie Future In Carolina

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By John Laghezza | Last updated May 30, 2025 8:17 PM ET

In a convergence of every rookie narrative known to man, I'm buying low on the Panthers' passing game. Yes, the same aerial attack that just finished bottom-5 in plays per game (58.4), completion rate (62.3%), EPA/attempt (+0.05), yards per attempt (6.2), and passing yards per game (187.5). Why? Narrative one — prospect growth isn't linear.

Apparently enough football people thought highly enough of Bryce Young to make him the number one overall pick. And despite a truly awful start to his pro career, it's not about where you start but where you finish — and the growth both on tape plus on the spreadsheet can't be denied.

After Carolina's Week 11 bye in 2024 (Narrative #2), Young looked much more comfortable operating under center and the results followed. He visibly improved his decision-making ability, in particular discerning when it's time to scramble and avoid pressure plus the subsequent sack risk.

Bryce Young, CAR — Weeks 12-18 (Of 35 QBs With +100 Dropbacks)

+0.24 EPA/Attempt — 10th
1,583 Passing Yards — 7th
11 TD — T-7th
3.7 TD:INT — 11th
51.9% Attempts To Sticks — 4th
9.4 Air Yards/Attempt — 5th
32 Deep Attempts — 2nd
12 Rushing First Downs — 9th

In case the raw stats don't sell you on Young's progress, sometimes a picture's worth a thousand words...

So we've established a compelling enough case for Bryce Young's viability in the league — but why didn't it translate into success whatsoever? In this age of specialized analytics in pro sports, it's hard to imagine a club falling so far behind the talent pool in an aspect as important as the pass catcher room. Well, it happened...

The Panthers wide receivers produced so poorly that their top yardage gainer through the air ranked as the WR83. Yes, in a league of only 32 teams, somehow 82 other WRs racked up more receiving yards than anyone wearing blue and silver. Well, credit to the Panthers front office for confronting that vulnerability head on and drafting stud WR Tetairoa McMillan with the eighth overall pick.

Whereas many first-year players wait for the post-bye rookie bump to breakout (narrative #3), the former Wildcat should step right into a full-time role — his current competition for routes on the outside is 30-year-old David Moore.

Laghezza's Lean:

None of this even mentions how badly the Panthers' defense played, which could once again provide plenty of negative game scripts conducive to throwing late in games. Considering we'll need all of 46.8 yards per contest to cash this bad boy, I'm running to MGM to bet Tetairoa McMillan OVER 795.5 RECEIVING YARDS.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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