The Carolina Panthers made another sizable investment in their wideout room during the 2026 NFL Draft. After taking receivers in the first round the previous two years (Xavier Legette in 2024 and Tetairoa McMillan in 2025), they waited until the third this time—and nabbed Tennessee’s Chris Brazzell II.
At the outset, Brazzell likely projects as the No. 4 option on the depth chart behind McMillan, Jalen Coker and Legette. But it may not take him long to jump up the ranks.
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Here’s Joe Person at The Athletic on what Brazzell brings to the table for Carolina’s passing game:
And wideout Chris Brazzell II, the third-round pick from Tennessee, has game-changing speed and a knack for coming down with the ball on deep throws. That’s an element the offense has lacked.
The now-retired Adam Thielen and quarterback Bryce Young made for one of the NFL’s best deep-ball duos going late in 2024, but the former was traded to the Minnesota Vikings during the offseason. While McMillan would make up for some of that lost connection, that aspect of the game isn’t really his strong suit.
That’s where Brazzell could come in.
Brazzell is a raw route runner who will need time to get acclimated to the more complex competition at the NFL level. If nothing else, though, the speedy 6-foot-4 pass catcher can run a nine and make contested catches on 50/50 balls—a talent that could quickly vault him ahead of Legette if the former first-rounder continues his struggles.
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Putting just the right touch and just the right power on those moon balls is arguably the thing Young does best. So if Brazzell can find a rhythm with him early on, then he may end up with a serious role as a rookie.
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This article originally appeared on Panthers Wire: WR Chris Brazzell II could bring missing element to Panthers offense