What I’m watching at Panthers rookie camp: T-Mac’s hands, new kicker top list

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CHARLOTTE, N.C. — After months of writing and talking about NFL prospects, followed by two weeks of writing and talking specifically about the players drafted by the Carolina Panthers, it’s finally time to see them in action.

Kind of.

The Panthers’ eight draft picks, 20 undrafted free agents (per published reports) and assorted tryout players will convene in Charlotte for a two-day rookie camp beginning Friday. If last year is any indication, the on-field drills figure to be a fairly light lift.

Much of the work will take place in the team and position rooms inside Bank of America Stadium, where Dave Canales and his assistants will start teaching the new guys the offensive and defensive systems, as well as the terminology. Still, the practices will be the closest the Panthers have come to actual football since their Week 18 win at Atlanta.

And they represent a chance for those who cover the team to get out from behind their laptops, breathe some fresh air and take in some grid. Here are five things I’ll be watching:

1. Tetairoa McMillan snatching footballs

The former Arizona wide receiver and eighth overall pick won over Bryce Young when he caught passes from the Panthers’ quarterback one day at a training facility in southern California. Young returned to Charlotte and “sat on the table” for McMillan, who — mixed metaphor or not — appreciated Young putting in a good word with Canales and general manager Dan Morgan.

Young won’t be participating in the rookie camp, where McMillan will pull in passes from Ethan Garbers, an undrafted free agent from UCLA. After Xavier Legette struggled with dropped passes as a rookie, that shouldn’t be an issue for McMillan, whose college tape is filled with fantastic catches — many of them with the ball at its highest point and some with only one hand.

TETAIROA. MCMILLAN. WHAT. A. CATCH. @TMAC96795 🤯🤯🤯

📺: Pac-12 Network pic.twitter.com/EMGwmKPrYX

— Arizona Football (@ArizonaFBall) September 17, 2023

McMillan isn’t the only receiver the Panthers took in the draft. On the third day, 200 picks after selecting McMillan, the Panthers snagged Jimmy Horn Jr., who was one of Shedeur Sanders’ favorite targets the past two seasons at Colorado. Horn has good quickness and return ability, but will find himself in the 6-foot-4 McMillan’s shadow this weekend, and not only because of their six-inch difference in height.

All eyes will be on the receiver known as “T-Mac.”

“They took me in the top-10, so obviously they see potential in me,” McMillan said during his introductory news conference. “They see that I can be a guy to help them turn it around. And whatever it takes for this team to be successful, I’m willing to do whatever. So, whether it’s playing inside, outside, whether it’s taking a year off and learning from the vets or whatever that may be, I’m all in.”

2. One of the entrants in the kicking competition

After three seasons of Eddy Pineiro, the Panthers are back in the kicking competition business even though it won’t begin in earnest until training camp when veteran Matthew Wright and undrafted free-agent Ryan Fitzgerald will battle it out. It’s unclear whether there will be a long snapper or a holder at the rookie camp, so Fitzgerald might have to bring a tee with him.

Hopefully special teams coach Tracy Smith will let Fitzgerald take a few kickoffs, which will give everyone a first-hand look at the former Florida State standout’s leg strength. The Panthers moved on from Pineiro despite an 88.1 career field goal percentage that ranks third all-time. But that mark was built mostly on kicks of 49 yards or less: In two of his seasons in Charlotte, Pineiro attempted just two field goals of 50 yards or longer.

Fitzgerald was 5-for-5 last year from 50-plus, including a 59-yarder against Georgia Tech that was the third-longest in ACC history.

3. Looking out for No. 1

Jersey numbers have been a hot topic of conversation since Abdul Carter, the No. 3 pick of the New York Giants, ruffled some feathers by requesting a couple of retired jersey numbers. After Lawrence Taylor declined to let Carter wear No. 56, it appeared Carter would get to keep the No. 11 he wore at Penn State. But Phil Simms’ family, specifically his wife and daughter, put the kibosh on it.

In Seattle, former South Carolina safety Nick Emmanwori will be the first Seahawks’ player to wear No. 3 since Russell Wilson was traded to Denver before the 2022 season. All of which brings us to Panthers rookies Trevor Etienne and Princely Umanmielen, both of whom wore No. 1 for all or part of their college careers.

That number has been out of circulation in Charlotte since Cam Newton last played in 2021 during his second stint with the Panthers. And given Newton’s stellar career — and the rocky relationship between him and the organization — No. 1 should remain off-limits.

There have been no indications Umanmielen, the third-round pick from Ole Miss, or Etienne, a fourth-rounder from Georgia, have requested Newton’s old number. If either made that ask privately, presumably the conversation didn’t get very far.

4. Pass-rush reinforcements

Many analysts and mock drafters thought Morgan would take Georgia’s Jalon Walker in the first round. Instead, Morgan waited until Day 2 to address the outside linebacker position, then drafted two of them. Umanmielen and Texas A&M’s Nic Scourton have different skill sets: Umanmielen is a speed rusher with length and bend, while Scourton relies more on power and strength, which also should help him set the edge in the run game.

Among the undrafted free agents, former SMU defensive lineman Jared Harrison-Hunte is worth a look. The 6-3, 290-pounder spent five seasons at Miami before transferring to SMU, where he played defensive tackle in the Mustangs’ four-man base. He came up big during SMU’s playoff push, notching six of his 8 1/2 sacks over the final four games.

Defensive linemen generally have the edge over their offensive line counterparts until the full-contact drills start. But given the Panthers’ defensive needs, any promising signs from Umanmielen and Scourton this weekend will be welcome.

5. Help at safety

Even after they selected Ohio State’s Lathan Ransom in the fourth round, the Panthers still have just four safeties on their roster. That number will nearly double this week after they sign their undrafted free agents. Based on various reports, that group will include three safeties: Nebraska’s Isaac Gifford, Minnesota’s Jack Henderson and Arkansas State’s Trevian Thomas.

The Athletic’s Dane Brugler had Henderson rated the highest among the three. The 6-2, 203-pounder led his team in tackles at Southeast Louisiana in 2022 and at Minnesota the following year. Henderson had a combined nine interceptions and 18 pass breakups over five seasons.

Safety Demani Richardson signed with the Panthers as an undrafted free agent out of Texas A&M last year. He played in 14 games with five starts, and finished with 51 tackles and an interception.

(Photo of Tetairoa McMillan: Aryanna Frank / Imagn Images)

This news was originally published on this post .

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