PANTHERS STRUGGLE AS TWO KEY PLAYERS CAN'T SEEM TO CLICK: THIELEN TRADE VOID HITS HARD
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PANTHERS STRUGGLE AS TWO KEY PLAYERS CAN'T SEEM TO CLICK: THIELEN TRADE VOID HITS HARD
CAROLINA, NC — It’s becoming painfully clear in Carolina: moving on from Adam Thielen right before the season kicked off may have been a major misstep. The Panthers pulled the trigger on a trade that sent their most productive receiver over the last two years packing—netting just a fourth-round pick in return. Now, four games into the 2025 season, they are severely feeling the void left behind by their reliable former No. 1 target.
Thielen wasn’t just Bryce Young’s go-to guy; he was the guy. Without him, Carolina’s passing attack looks disjointed at best. The Panthers miscalculated their receiving depth, with expected contributors like Xavier Legette showing clear regression, and the injury to Jalen Coker further thinning an already shaky rotation. This has forced the Panthers to lean almost entirely on rookie Tetairoa McMillan to become “the guy” before he's truly ready.
The Missing Connection: Young and McMillan
While McMillan showed plenty of upside and strong rhythm with Young during the offseason and the first two games, that crucial connection has gone missing since. Over the last couple games, there’s been an alarming number of misfires. Bryce Young has missed McMillan multiple times on routes where the receiver was clearly open—including a couple of would-be explosive plays down the sidelines in last week's loss.
McMillan finished that game with just three catches for 40 yards before Andy Dalton entered the game. The rookie’s inconsistency is highlighted by his catch rate: 18 of 35 targets (just over 50%). While some blame lies with the receiver's few drops, Young’s accuracy has also been hot and cold in his second year. A noticeable number of throws—especially deep balls—have sailed just out of reach, even for McMillan’s sizable catch radius.
A Symbiotic Problem Needs a Quick Fix
To be clear: neither McMillan nor Young is solely responsible for the Panthers’ offensive struggles. It’s a symbiotic relationship, and right now it’s out of sync. In a league defined by consistent quarterback-receiver duos, this one’s trending in the wrong direction.
Can it be fixed? Absolutely. But the margin for error is shrinking fast.
The offense needs:
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Better accuracy from Young.
Softer hands and sharper routes from McMillan.
More consistency from Legette or other supporting receivers.
If things don’t start clicking soon, the Panthers could be staring down a long, winless stretch—and looking back at that Thielen trade with far more regret than they ever expected.
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