Panthers first-round pick Tetairoa McMillan has signed his first NFL contract.
The Panthers announced that McMillan is one of six draft picks who have signed ahead of this weekend’s rookie minicamp. McMillan signed a four-year deal worth over $27.93 million and the team holds an option for a fifth season.
McMillan was the first wide receiver off the board in this year’s draft. He had 84 catches for 1,139 yards and eight touchdowns in his final season at Arizona.
The Panthers also announced that they have signed third-round linebacker Princely Umanmielen, fourth-round safety Lathan Ransom, fifth-round defensive tackle Cam Jackson, fifth-round tight end Mitchell Evans, and sixth-round wide receiver Jimmy Horn Jr. Two more picks remain unsigned.
Nineteen undrafted rookies have also signed with the team. TCU cornerback JaTravis Broughton, Florida State kicker Ryan Fitzgerald, UCLA quarterback Ethan Garbers, Miami wide receiver Jacolby George, Nebraska safety Isaac Gifford, SMU defensive end Jared Hunte-Harrison, Minnesota safety Jack Henderson, UCF wide receiver Kobe Hudson, Cincinnati offensive lineman Luke Kandra, Vanderbile offensive lineman Steven Losoya, Michigan State running back Kayron Lynch-Adams, South Carolina linebacker Bam Martin-Scott, Texas A&M wide receiver Moose Muhammad III, Fresno State linebacker Tuasivi Nomura, UCLA tight end Bryce Pierre, South Dakota cornerback Michael Reid, Oklahoma offensive lineman Michael Tarquin, Arkansas State safety Trevian Thomas, and Louisville cornerback Corey Thornton make up that group.
Carolina running back Jonathon Brooks will not be on the field for the 2025 season.
As part of a bevy of moves on Thursday, the Panthers placed Brooks on the physically unable to perform list.
By making the move now, Brooks will not play in the coming season. After recovering from a torn ACL suffered in his last year with Texas, Brooks came back play three games before re-tearing the same ACL in December.
He had nine carries for 22 yards and three receptions for 23 yards in those three games last year.
Additionally, Carolina formally announced the previously reported release of edge rusher Jadeveon Clowney. The Panthers also announced tight end Colin Granger was waived with an injury settlement. The club waived/injured defensive tackle Popo Aumavae, waived receiver T.J. Luther, receiver Dax Milne, offensive lineman Andrew Raym, and defensive tackle Jerrod Clark. The team also released tight end Jordan Matthews.
The Panthers are moving on from one of their veteran defenders.
Carolina is releasing edge rusher Jadeveon Clowney, the team announced on Thursday.
The No. 1 overall pick of the 2014 draft, Clowney had signed a two-year deal with the Panthers last offseason. He recorded 5.5 sacks with nine tackles for loss and 11 quarterback hits in 14 games for the club in 2024.
By releasing Clowney, the Panthers will save $7.8 million against the cap in 2025.
In 140 career games for Houston, Seattle, Tennessee, Cleveland, Baltimore, and Carolina, Clowney has recorded 58.0 sacks with 108 tackles for loss and 138 quarterback hits.
The Panthers are continuing to trim their roster ahead of this weekend’s rookie minicamp.
Mike Kaye of the Charlotte Observer reports that they are waiving center Andrew Raym and wide receiver Dax Milne. Word that they are also parting ways with tight ends Jordan Matthews and Colin Granger came earlier in the day.
Raym signed with the Panthers after going undrafted out of Oklahoma last year and made the initial 53-man roster. He played in one game and finished out the season on the practice squad.
Milne was also on the practice squad at the end of the year. He did not appear in any games, but did play in 28 games for Washington in 2021 and 2022. He had 15 catches for 120 yards and a touchdown while also seeing time as a returner.
A pair of tight ends are out in Carolina as the Panthers make space for incoming rookies.
Mike Kaye of the Charlotte Observer reports that the team is releasing Jordan Matthews and Joe Person of TheAthletic.com reports that they are waiving Colin Granger. The moves open up two spots on the 90-man roster.
Matthews was a 2014 second-round pick by the Eagles while playing wide receiver and he transitioned to tight end while with the 49ers in 2022. He missed that season with a torn ACL and joined the Panthers the next year.
Matthews played in five games for the Panthers over the last two seasons and did not catch any passes.
Granger played basketball at Coastal Carolina and was trying to make the jump to football, but a hamstring injury ended his run with the Panthers.
