What’s Brewing in Carolina’s Wide Receiver Room?
The Carolina Panthers’ receiving room has been an issue of concern for them since they traded D.J. Moore. To supplement their lack of a true X receiver, the Panthers signed Adam Thielen in 2022. The current Viking played a solid role in the receiving room, continuing to perform despite his age. Thielen added a much-needed veteran presence to both the team and the receiving room. The Panthers continued to try to add to the receiving room, using first and second-round draft picks on receivers and free agency. Unfortunately for the Panthers, the receiving room continued to be an issue. Now in the 2025 season, the Panthers have a new receiving room filled with youth.
Just before the season started, the Panthers traded their leading receiver for the past few years. Sending Thielen back to his original team in Minnesota. Losing the former Pro Bowler leaves a massive hole in the receiving room with no equal in terms of experience or production. In place of Thielen, the Panthers signed Hunter Renfrow back to the team. Renfrow is also a former Pro Bowler, but is coming off a season away from football. Renfrow was a camp standout but was ultimately cut at the end of training camp. The former Las Vegas Raider will fill a crucial veteran role for the young receiving room.
The Panthers have spent two first-round picks on receivers in the last two drafts. In 2024, the Panthers drafted Xavier Legette with the 32nd overall pick, and in 2025, they drafted Tetairoa Tetairoa McMillian with the eighth overall pick. McMillian was drafted to be the true X receiver that the Panthers have been lacking in the past few years—a big body to help Bryce Young moving forward. Legette is a solid piece that can play all over the field. The most significant hurdle moving forward for these young receivers is that it will take time for them to click. I believe that the Panthers' receiving room has the potential to be a top-tier room moving forward.
