The Carolina Panthers were widely expected to take a defensive playmaker at No. 8 overall in the 2025 NFL Draft. Ejiro Evero's historically bad campaign, coupled with general manager Dan Morgan's decision to go with a wide receiver in 2024, led most experts to the same conclusion: defense would be the way to go.
Morgan had something else in mind. The Panthers instead took wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan at No. 8. This raised a few eyebrows around the league, but those in power believed he was the legitimate WR1 this team and quarterback Bryce Young hadn't benefited from previously.