Rookies report
Cam Jackson
Image from Jackson’s Instagram.
The Panthers' rookie class reported to camp yesterday. While some players, namely Tetairoa McMillan arrive with high expectations, what are the realistic outlooks for each of the team’s draft picks?
Let’s start with McMillan. He’s drawn comparisons to Mike Evans, largely due to his 6'4" frame. But that comparison only goes so far, McMillan is slightly shorter, not as fast, and has significantly shorter arms than Evans. Clearly, he can play. His college production at Arizona speaks for itself. That said, Arizona hasn’t exactly been a powerhouse, especially after being left adrift in the wilderness of college football realignment.
The biggest red flag for me is Steve Smith's critique of McMillan’s ability to separate from defenders. That’s a concern. There are finer elements of his route running and physicality that he'll need to refine in order to live up to the expectations that come with being a top-10 pick. Bottom line: if he can haul in 60+ catches for 800+ yards and 4–5 touchdowns this year, that would qualify as a strong rookie campaign.
Nic Scourton was my favorite pick of the class. He’s got the size to set the edge and showed an ability to get after the quarterback while playing at a lighter weight at Purdue. He holds up well against the run, and if he can notch 4–5 sacks as a rookie, that would be an outstanding first year.
Princely Umanmielen looks like a classic boom-or-bust prospect. It’s fair to ask: how did someone with his physical traits and strong production in the SEC fall so far in the draft? The Panthers likely won’t rely on him much in early-down run defense; he’ll be used mostly as a situational pass rusher. If he can provide consistent third-down pressure and chip in with 4 sacks this year, that would set him up nicely for a bigger role in 2026.
A couple of final notes:
I loved the Cam Jackson pick. He’s a classic "planet theory" guy. There are only so many humans on Earth with that size and ability to clog the middle. Great value late in the draft.
As for Jimmy Horn Jr., I’m not sold. A 4.46 forty isn’t eye-popping at wide receiver, and certainly not at 5'8". There’s a lot of hype around him, but I’m skeptical until he shows he can contribute.