Panthers Rookies Critical to Carolina’s Early-Season Success

In total, the former Arizona Wildcat has racked up 27 receptions on the year, good for 380 yards and two scores. Of McMillan’s 27 catches this season, 22 have resulted in first downs, leaving him sixth overall among NFL wide receivers in this stat.

Factor in his impressive 25.1% target share (15th in the NFL), and it’s clear McMillian has become Carolina’s lead dog at the position.

At his current rate, McMillian is on pace to notch just under 1,100 yards and six scores on the year, a season that would no doubt place him in the conversation for the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Year Award.

Jimmy Horn Jr.

Sixth-round rookie wideout Jimmy Horn Jr. spent the first four weeks of the 2025 regular season inactive before finally earning his call to the active roster ahead of the Panthers’ Week 5 contest in Miami. In the two weeks since being elevated, Horn Jr. has played a sort of “gadget” role for Carolina’s coaching staff, showcasing his abilities as both a pass-catcher and runner.

As the season continues, Horn Jr. will no doubt play a larger role in the offense as a whole. His skill set and intangibles offer a versatile wrinkle desperately needed within the Panthers’ wide receiver room.

Trevor Etienne

So far, Panthers’ fourth-round pick Trevor Etienne has looked to be a positive addition to an already loaded running back room.

While his carries have been limited, Etienne has been generally productive when on the field, rushing for an average of 5.1 yards per attempt and showcasing his special teams skills as a kick returner.

Overall, through six weeks, the former Georgia Bulldog has proven himself to be an excellent change-of-pace style rusher and multi-purpose weapon for the Panthers’ coaching staff.

Mitchell Evans

Another rookie who’s provided key contributions to the Panthers this season is first-year tight end Mitchell Evans. Since being drafted out of Notre Dame in the fifth round, Evans has carved out a respectable role for himself within the team’s offense.

Through six weeks, Evans has impressed as both a pass-catching target and a blocker. Currently, Evans leads all Panthers’ tight ends in yards per catch (9.4), while also posting an outstanding catch rate of 87.5%. Evans has become a staple in Carolina’s run-heavy and two-tight-end packages, consistently generating strong blocking results and driving the ground game forward.

All things considered, Evans has been quite impactful for the Panthers thus far, and they’ll need him to continue to contribute moving forward. For the time being, though, Evans looks to be yet another late-round draft steal from Dan Morgan and Co.

Nic Scourton

Overall, Panthers’ 2025 second-round selection Nic Scourton has looked solid to begin his NFL career. The former Texas A&M Aggie has carved out a respectable rotational role on the Panthers’ defensive line, where he’s recorded 10 tackles and five quarterback pressures, showcasing his disruptive pass-rushing abilities.

So far, Scourton’s best performance in Process Blue came during the Panthers’ Week 5 victory against the Miami Dolphins on the road. Scourton turned in a spirited effort, finishing the contest with four solo tackles and one tackle for loss, earning him the highest Pro Football Focus grade among all eligible rookies that week with an 89.6.

Princely Umanmielen

Another rookie who’s made his mark on the defensive side of the ball is Princely Umanmielen. Through six games, the Panthers’ 2025 third-round selection has looked solid, flashing his explosive pass-rushing arsenal and earning himself a rotational role on the team’s defensive line.

On Sep. 13, the former Ole Miss Rebel notched his first career sack during the Panthers’ Week 2 contest against the Arizona Cardinals, taking down Kyler Murray for a drive-ending nine-yard stop.

All things considered, Umanmielen has turned in a productive start to his rookie campaign thus far. Now, with the Panthers shutting down veteran outside linebacker Patrick Jones for the year due to a back injury, expect Umanmielen’s game-by-game workload to increase as the season continues.

Ryan Fitzgerald

On special teams, undrafted free agent kicker Ryan Fitzgerald has been excellent for the Panthers through six weeks.

After securing the starting job in the preseason, Fitzgerald has been extremely productive in regular-season play. So far, the Florida State product has knocked down 10 of his 11 field goal attempts and 12-of-13 on extra points.

Fitzgerald has also been praised for his “knuckle-ball” kickoffs, which create added unpredictability and chaotic bounces, inherently distributing the opposing team’s returns.

Fitzgerald’s biggest moment of the season so far came in the Panthers’ week 5 victory against the Cowboys, when he drained a game-winning 33-yard walk-off field goal.

Overall, through six weeks of the season, Fitzgerald has been accurate and poised when the Panthers have needed him most. Should his strong level of play continue in the coming weeks, the 25-year-old will no doubt solidify himself as the Panthers’ long-term solution at the kicker position.

Final Thoughts

Moving forward, the Panthers are at a pivotal point in their season. At 3-3, competing for a playoff spot is not out of the question. That being said, to give themselves a shot at postseason play, the Panthers will need many of their rookies to continue contributing in impactful ways down the stretch of the year.

Fortunately for Carolina, their 2025 rookie class seems up to the task.