The Carolina Panthers are one of the more intriguing teams heading into the 2025 season.
Even though they are coming off a (5-12) season in 2024 with the first year as Dave Canales as head coach, the Panthers are brimming with optimism heading into the new year.
The sudden positive outlook starts with QB Bryce Young, who was benched after just two games last season. But Young found his way back into the starting role and played the best football of his NFL career.
From taking over as the starter again in Week 8 until Week 18, the Panthers QB started 10 games, leading Carolina to a 4–6 record during that span. He threw for 2,104 passing yards, 15 touchdowns, and six interceptions, along with five rushing touchdowns during that span. Young’s dual-threat ability was on full display and suddenly, it was obvious the Panthers would be sticking with him as their QB to build around in 2025.
Young capped off the impressive turnaround in the final game of the season against the Atlanta Falcons, The second-year Panthers QB delivered a career-best performance, throwing for three touchdowns and rushing for two more, culminating in a 44–38 overtime victory.
Last season, the Carolina Panthers brass attempted to add a big target for Young by drafting Xavier Legette in the first round. The inconsistency at the quarterback position early in the season likely affected Legette’s stats, but he finished the year with 49 receptions for 497 yards and four touchdowns. He showed enough promise to give Panthers fans plenty of optimism for 2025.
But Carolina understands Young will only go as far as his surrounding cast, so in the first round of the NFL Draft last weekend, the Panthers added Tetairoa McMillan, who was taken with the No. 8 overall pick.
One NFL executive told the Athletic's Mike Sando McMillan will be a top 15 WR in the NFL.
"“I think he is like Tee Higgins,” the executive said. “That is higher than Tee went, but you would still be getting a top-15 receiver in the league. I do not think Carolina will look back on this draft class, with these players, and regret it. There were not a lot of blue-chip players.”
For now, it looks like the Panthers have a solid group of wideouts surrounding Young, but one outside-the-box prediction is both controversial and intriguing.
Former Raiders RB Josh Jacobs has been having conversations with Henry Ruggs, who was drafted by Las Vegas and thrived in his first year until his involvement in a fatal drunk driving accident sent him to prison.
Jacobs says Ruggs has been training in prison and is hopeful for a NFL comeback when he is released. He is first eligible for parole on Aug. 5, 2026, per the Nevada Department of Corrections records.
Anthony Palacios of Last Word on Sports believes Ruggs could be a perfect fit in Carolina to give Young another weapon at WR.
The Carolina Panthers are in a better position than any other NFL roster when it comes to the receiver room. Since drafting Tetairoa McMillan out of Arizona State, the Panthers could use more pass catchers to help quarterback Bryce Young perform. They know Adam Thielen is hanging on a thread and will likely retire next season, so Ruggs could pair with McMillan in the backend of the depth chart while Xavier Legette and Jalen Coker will be their top guys, depending on the situation.