Locked On Panthers

The Carolina Panthers recently opted to exercise the fifth-year option in former first-round LT Ickey Ekwonu's contract. This option will keep Ekwonu around until at least the 2026 season, and it signifies that Carolina has finally found its franchise left tackle. Recently, former first-round tackles Christian Darrisaw and Andrew Thomas have received their fifth-year options and contract extensions in the same offseason. Will Carolina choose to do the same with Ekwonu or wait until the following offseason as they did with Derrick Brown and Jaycee Horn?The Panthers surprised many on Day 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft by selecting Arizona WR Tetairoa McMillan with the 8th overall pick. McMillan now joins a wide receiver room lacking a clear-cut No. 1 option. Last season, Marvin Harrison Jr., Rome Odunze, and Malik Nabers all had varying degrees of success as top 10 picks during their rookie seasons. Based on their performances, what are reasonable expectations for McMillan during his debut season in Carolina?The Panth