Carolina Panthers DVOA, Stats, & NFL Rankings

Fourth-round rookie running back Trevor Etienne officially signed his rookie deal with the Carolina Panthers on Tuesday, according to NFL.com. The former Florida Gator and Georgia Bulldog is the brother of Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne. He racked up 2,081 yards and 23 touchdowns on the ground and 432 yards and one score as a receiver in 34 collegiate games. Etienne will have a chance to compete for touches with veterans Chuba Hubbard and Rico Dowdle in a backfield that could shake out to be a pure committee. He could be on the fantasy radar in deep leagues, but he will likely go undrafted in most standard-sized 12-team setups. With Jonathon Brooks (knee) out for the season, Etienne should be monitored as a rookie as a potential late-season waiver-wire add.

The Carolina Panthers have signed rookie first-round wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan to a four-year, $27.93 million contract. McMillan was the first receiver selected in April's draft, chosen No. 8 overall by Carolina. The hulking pass-catcher (6-foot-4) will reportedly operate as the team's X receiver with veteran Adam Thielen manning the slot and Xavier Legette rounding out the corps at the Z. It's a natural fit for the Arizona product, as his frame and metrics support the position. He was excellent during his final two seasons at college, amassing 174 receptions, 2,721 yards, and 18 touchdowns, and projects to slot in as a high-volume target for quarterback Bryce Young. McMillan is a superb selection early in rookie drafts, and could garner appeal in redraft leagues if Young's improvements from the tail end of 2024 stick.

Following the release of veteran edge rusher Jadeveon Clowney, the Carolina Panthers expect rookie pass rushers Nic Scourton and Princely Umanmielen to make an impact in Year 1, according to NFL Network's Cameron Wolfe. The pair of SEC edge defenders were second and third-round picks, respectively, in the 2025 NFL Draft. Scourton tallied 15 sacks over his last 23 games at Texas A&M, while Umanmielen recorded 10.5 sacks in his lone season at Ole Miss after transferring from Florida. Both were productive sack-artists at the highest level of college football, and many had first-round grades on them. At worst, they should be in the mix to play on passing downs with veterans D.J. Wonnum, Pat Jones II, and DJ Johnson.