Tetairoa McMillan is coming off a breakout rookie campaign and was rewarded handsomely for it at the NFL Honors, taking home the award for Offensive Rookie of the Year. He received another endorsement before the event, however.
NBC’s Chris Simms exclusively told Sportskeeda that the Panthers rookie has done enough to earn a second contract on Wednesday.
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“There’s guys where it’s like Tetairoa McMillan, I mean, yeah, if the rules would permit it, I could go ‘yeah, it’s going to work, and he’s going to be a big time receiver.’”
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McMillan caught 70 passes for 1,014 yards and seven touchdowns in his first season with the Panthers and established himself as the team’s top receiver heading into 2026.
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His impressive first season continued the momentum from his college career, which saw him lead the Big 12 in receiving yards in 2024. He also caught at least eight touchdowns in each of his three seasons in the FBS.
Read More: “This guy is a beast”: Fans hyped for McMillan at 2025 NFL Combine
Exploring Tetairoa McMillan’s rookie contract
The Carolina Panthers saw something special in Tetairoa McMillan when the team selected him with the No. 8 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Now, thanks to a minimal financial investment, the team is set up to cash in for a great return on its investment.
According to Spotrac, McMillan is playing on a $27.9 million contract with a $6.9 million salary and a $16.9 million signing bonus. The deal runs through 2028, with a fifth-year option available that could extend it until 2029.
If McMillan plays out all five years of his rookie deal, he will head into his next deal at 27 years old. Of course, plans for the future are likely to be considered much sooner, with the fifth-year option becoming available after three seasons, which would be after the 2027 season.
Plenty of players have had a great start to their NFL careers and faltered in following seasons, however. Brian Thomas Jr., for instance, is one recent example. Thomas saw his production take a hit from 1,282 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2024 to 707 yards and two touchdowns in 2025.
Will McMillan have a hangover after securing the offensive rookie of the year in his first season?
Edited by Ian Van Roy
