A 2026 rookie may be the key to unlocking even more production from one of 2025's top rookies.
Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales spoke with reporters on Friday, following his team's second session of training camp. He was asked about the offseason chatter surrounding a new plan for wideout Tetairoa McMillan—one that would see him line up in the slot more often in his second NFL campaign.
Canales didn't exactly shoot down that talk, and hinted that third-round pick and fellow receiver Chris Brazzell II could help the offense execute that look.
"We used him [McMillan] a lot in there last year as well. So we'll just continue that plan," Canales replied. "Chris Brazzell gives us the opportunity to move him inside a little bit more. We can pop
T-Mac inside, put Chris at the single.
"When you have somebody that tall and fast, sitting on the single side with the one-on-one matchup—that gives an advantage. Maybe the defense tilts that way a little bit, it creates a little bit of space inside."
McMillan, en route to capturing the 2025 AP Offensive Rookie of the Year honors, recorded 126 of his 633 passing-down snaps (19.9 percent) from the slot. That was pretty much on par with his usage at the University of Arizona, where he played on the inside 22.9 percent of the time.
But as noted by Canales, the 6-foot-4 Brazzell might be able to help the 6-foot-4 McMillan match up more favorably in 2026. Brazzell's combination of length and speed (4.37-second 40-yard dash) already opened eyes during spring workouts, and could serve as an effective field-stretching strategy for an offense looking for more explosive gains.
If Brazzell can keep opposing defenses honest downfield, then McMillan will have plenty of opportunities to pick apart his coverage as a power slot option.
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This article originally appeared on Panthers Wire: Panthers HC Dave Canales is asked about increasing WR Tetairoa McMillan's slot usage
