It is officially the start of July. In the NFL, that means we’re in the midst of some downtime as we wait for training camp to get underway.
This makes it a perfect time to preview the Carolina Panthers’ wide receiver room for the 2025 NFL season.
The Panthers currently have 12 wide receivers listed on their depth chart, which means they could field a full five-on-five basketball game and still have two substitutes remaining. That’s quite a lot of wide receivers, and it leaves plenty of room for the front office to trim the roster down. By Week 1, Carolina will likely have six receivers remaining.
Without further ado, here are my way-too-early predictions for the 2025 Carolina Panthers wide receivers.
WR1: Tetairoa McMillan
I have Tetairoa McMillan listed as the No. 1 receiver on the Panthers’ depth chart. They selected him with the eighth overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. The footage that has already emerged of McMillan has fans excited for the upcoming season. At 6-foot-4, he is a big-bodied receiver, which is exactly what the Panthers have lacked in recent seasons. Although they previously drafted Xavier Legette, his performance in his rookie season left many questioning whether he was the right choice. Having McMillan on the roster as the top receiver serves as a solid insurance policy in case the Legette pick does not pan out.
Carolina’s rookie receiver Tetairoa McMillan is getting rave reviews
pic.twitter.com/dvITT68X0B— John Frascella (Football) (@NFLFrascella) July 1, 2025
WR2: Xavier Legette
I do believe my choices for WR1 and WR2 could be interchanged, depending on how Carolina lists these players on their Week 1 depth chart. However, I’m selecting Xavier Legette as my WR2. He was the 32nd overall pick in the 2024 draft and had a decent rookie season, recording 84 receptions for 467 yards and four touchdowns. (His yardage totals would have been higher if he had played better at the start of the season, but any improvement is better than what we saw from Jonathan Mingo.) With a full offseason and another season under his belt, fans should expect a significant increase in his production from his rookie to sophomore year.
WR3: Adam Thielen
My selection for the WR3 position on the depth chart is veteran Adam Thielen. Despite being in his 11th season in the league, he consistently delivers impressive statistics and makes highlight-reel catches. Last season, his 10th as a pro, he recorded 48 receptions for 615 yards and five touchdowns despite missing a significant part of the season due to a nagging hamstring injury. Thielen has provided essential veteran leadership to a group of relatively young receivers. He has proven to be one of the best signings the Panthers have made in the past five years.
WR4: Jalen Coker
For the fourth wide receiver on the depth chart, I have fan favorite Jalen Coker. He impressed everyone last preseason and made the active roster in Week 5 against the Chicago Bears. Since then, Coker has continued to improve steadily. Throughout his first season in the league, he recorded 32 receptions for 478 yards, ranking 10th among all rookie receivers. He also scored two touchdowns. Notably, three of Carolina’s rookies—wide receivers Xavier Legette and Jalen Coker, as well as tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders—ranked in the top 14 among all rookie receivers in receptions.
Shoutout Jalen Cokerpic.twitter.com/c5AvzZ7IId
— Ian Hartitz (@Ihartitz) June 19, 2025
WR5: David Moore
David Moore had an impressive season last year, recording 32 receptions for 351 yards. These were his best career stats to date. Moore was a key contributor to the Panthers’ success at the end of the year, especially during the regular season finale. In that Week 18 contest, Bryce Young threw three touchdowns, one of which was caught by Moore. He has proven to be a reliable veteran option.
WR6: Jimmy Horn Jr.
My last pick for the depth chart is former Colorado Buffalo Jimmy Horn Jr. Horn was selected in the sixth round, 208th overall. He was one of Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders’ favorite targets at Colorado. In his final season with the Buffaloes, Horn recorded 37 receptions for 441 yards and one touchdown. He possesses both the speed and catching ability to be a valuable asset on an NFL roster, which makes him a potential draft steal for the Panthers in the sixth round.
Shedeur with a beauty.
Jimmy Horn Jr. with the spectacular catch AND the flip.
📺: Path to the Draft: Colorado Showcase on @nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/vMCBsAf742
— NFL (@NFL) April 4, 2025
Lingering Thoughts
I believe there is a slight possibility that the Panthers might keep a seventh wide receiver, although it is unlikely. If they choose to do so, potential candidates could include T.J. Luther or the newly signed Hunter Renfrow. However, it seems more probable that the team will use their precious surplus roster spots on the defensive side of the ball, which was statistically one of the worst in NFL history.
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