Tetairoa McMillan Could Join Elite Company in 2026

McMillan is going to be the Panthers’ top target again in 2026, and the offense will go as far as he will take them. If the receiver duplicates his stat line from 2025, he’ll officially have cemented himself in the record books.

According to ESPN’s Mike Kaye, McMillan can become the fifth player in NFL history to post 70 catches, 1,000 receiving yards and seven touchdowns in each of his first two seasons. The only four players who have accomplished that feat are Ja’Marr Chase, Justin Jefferson, Odell Beckham Jr., and Marques Colston.

Chase and Jefferson are two of the five best receivers in the league, Beckham is a multi-time Pro Bowler, and Colston was one of the most underrated receivers of his era. That’s some great company to be associated with, especially considering McMillan is only 23.

“McMillan can join a pretty special club by duplicating his production from his rookie season. While it took all 17 games for him to reach 70 catches, 1,014 yards and seven touchdowns, his chemistry has blossomed with QB Bryce Young this summer,” Kaye explained. “In 2026, McMillan should be able to hit two-thirds of that stat line (catches and yardage) by mid-December, with a few weeks to spare for more touchdowns.”

It’s not hard to imagine McMillan accomplishing this. After all, the receiver is the clear No. 1 option, and the Panthers don’t have a deep receiver room behind him or a reliable pass-catching tight end.

It’s safe to assume that teams know who McMillan is now. After earning the Rookie of the Year Award last season, McMillan is going to face every defense’s best cover man and plenty of double coverages.