NFL.com just dropped their Offensive Rookie of the Year predictions, and guess who’s missing? The Carolina Panthers’ top 2025 NFL Draft pick, Tetairoa McMillan! Is this a massive oversight, or does the committee know something we don’t? We’re breaking down why this snub could be the motivation McMillan needs to dominate with Bryce Young this season. Get the full story and see the other candidates!

As the highly anticipated 2025 NFL season rapidly approaches, the annual tradition of prognostications for the league’s top individual honors has begun, yet one name notably absent from the initial NFL.com Offensive Rookie of the Year list has sparked considerable discussion: Carolina Panthers wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan. This omission, particularly for a player heralded as a potential cornerstone of the Panthers’ revitalized offense, has many questioning the early assessments and wondering if a significant talent is being overlooked.

McMillan’s journey to the NFL was marked by high expectations, becoming the first wide receiver selected in the competitive 2025 NFL Draft. His selection by General Manager Dan Morgan was viewed as a strategic move to bolster a receiving corps in desperate need of dynamism and consistent production. The Arizona Wildcats product arrived in Charlotte with a collegiate pedigree of high-volume output, signaling his readiness to contribute immediately at the professional level.

Early reports from Panthers training camp indicate a burgeoning rapport between the rookie wideout and franchise quarterback Bryce Young. This developing chemistry is paramount for a Carolina Panthers offense that historically struggled to find a reliable top pass-catcher. In 2024, the team finished a dismal 30th in the league in passing yards per game and was the sole NFL squad without a single player reaching 50 receptions, underscoring the critical role McMillan is expected to fill.

The much-discussed Offensive Rookie of the Year list originates from a 29-member voting committee assembled by NFL.com, tasked with offering their preliminary insights into the league’s eight prestigious postseason awards. These include MVP, Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year, Coach of the Year, Comeback Player of the Year, and the newly introduced Protector of the Year for offensive linemen, with Offensive and Defensive Rookie of the Year being key categories for emerging talent.

While McMillan was conspicuously absent, the initial ballot for Offensive Rookie of the Year featured nine other promising prospects. Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty led the way with seven votes, followed closely by Jaguars’ versatile Travis Hunter with six, and Titans quarterback Cam Ward securing five. Other notable mentions included Buccaneers receiver Emeka Egbuka (two votes), Chargers running back Omarion Hampton (two votes), Patriots running back TreVeyon Henderson (one vote), Packers wideout (one vote), Bears tight end Colston Loveland (one vote), and Colts tight end Tyler Warren (one vote), illustrating a diverse field of contenders.

The complete lack of votes for Tetairoa McMillan registers as a genuine surprise, especially considering the circumstances surrounding the Carolina Panthers. Head Coach Dave Canales’s offense is poised to emphasize the passing game, and McMillan’s proven ability to be a high-volume producer during his final two seasons at the University of Arizona makes his omission puzzling. His collegiate success hinted at an immediate impact player, making the snub feel more like an oversight than an accurate prediction.

Ultimately, the Carolina Panthers are banking on the partnership between Bryce Young and Tetairoa McMillan to become a formidable force in the passing game. If this duo lives up to its immense potential, delivering the high-volume production that both the team and McMillan are capable of, it will become increasingly difficult for the 50 AP voting committee, which determines the final awards at the conclusion of the NFL regular season, to overlook the dynamic 2025 NFL Draft first-round pick. This early snub could very well serve as powerful motivation.