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Carolina did the right thing. The Panthers knew a top Cat when they saw one.

As suggested by yours truly on — — Dec. 29, 2024, the ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥â€™ all-time leader in receiving yards is headed to Charlotte. It’s a perfect fit for the player and the team — and a sharp rebuke of the T-Mac detractors who emerged during the pre-draft process.

One of the leaders of that foolish faction was NFL Network analyst and provocateur Steve Smith Sr. — who just so happens to be the Carolina Panthers’ all-time leading receiver. If McMillan found it satisfying to break ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥â€™s career receiving-yards mark while being coached by its owner, Bobby Wade, imagine what it would be like if T-Mac were to break some of Smith’s records. How much crow can you stomach, Steve?

In terms of size and personality, McMillan is the polar opposite of Smith, who played with a fiery demeanor that hasn’t dissipated since he retired eight years ago. But don’t be fooled by McMillan’s Hawaiian humility and California coolness — which, I heard, made him less appealing to some evaluators.

While McMillan was spreading love by handing out leis Thursday night in Green Bay — even NFL commissioner Roger Goodell got one, on stage — T-Mac sneakily trolled the entire state of Wisconsin by wearing a purple suit to the draft. As soon as I saw him walk down the green carpet in Minnesota Vikings colors, I knew the Packers wouldn’t select him.

It never became a possibility as Carolina — 15 picks earlier, at No. 8 — upended the .

Some late rumblings had McMillan going to Jacksonville at No. 5 — which became moot when the Jaguars traded up to No. 2 to get Travis Hunter. The most popular landing spot for T-Mac was Dallas at No. 12. That would have been exciting without a doubt. But Carolina is a better destination for multiple reasons.

The first is that Charlotte isn’t Dallas. Yes, there are only 32 NFL franchises, and no professional sports league gets covered more in the U.S. But none of the 32 is scrutinized more than the Cowboys. Stephen A. Smith doesn’t do many 20-minute rants on the Panthers. With Carolina, McMillan can learn and grow and mature without every move he makes being micro-analyzed.

The second is the presence of ascending third-year quarterback Bryce Young. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that and Trinity League alum. At 5-10, 204 pounds, Young is built similarly to McMillan’s longtime quarterback and friend Noah Fifita. McMillan and Fifita will always be BFFs. But McMillan could quickly become Young’s best friend on the field.

(Fun fact: Colleague Justin Spears and I attended a game between Servite High and St. John Bosco in the fall of 2021 to gather material on the Servite players who were committed to ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥. That team featured McMillan as well as defensive tackle Mason Graham, who was the fifth overall pick Thursday. Bosco won 24-10.)

The third is the profile of Panthers coach Dave Canales. Another Southern Californian, Canales served as an offensive assistant in Seattle from 2010-22 and as the offensive coordinator in Tampa Bay in 2023 before becoming Carolina’s head coach. He coached DK Metcalf with the Seahawks and Mike Evans with the Buccaneers. Canales knows what to do with a 6-foot-4 receiver who can go up and get it.

The fourth is the composition of the Panthers’ receiver room. Carolina took a big-bodied wideout at the end of the first round last year in Xavier Legette. But he was more project than polished. And both he and McMillan are capable of playing outside or in the slot.

Carolina’s leader in receiving yards last season was Adam Thielen, who turns 35 in August. Thielen mulled retirement after the 2024 campaign but decided to re-up with the Panthers for one more year. Is there anyone who’d be a better mentor for McMillan?

“I want to help everybody become the best player they can be, and if they want to use me as a resource, I’m here,� Thielen said in August 2020, . “They all know that. I love this game of football, and I love to teach it and to use what I’ve learned to share with these young guys.�

Last year, then-rookie receiver Jalen Coker said of Thielen: “He’s kind of been a shoulder to lean on, a guy that you can come to with any type of question, and he’s just such a great teammate, such a great … extra coach for us, especially for the young guys. He’s done it, so what a blessing to have him in our room.�

Simply put, Thielen can show McMillan what it means to be a professional.

The doubters — including , who absurdly ranked McMillan 50th on his final big board — questioned McMillan’s passion for the game. I’ve cited multiple examples that illustrate otherwise, including McMillan working tirelessly to rehab from a leg injury and play for the ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ last season when he easily could have opted out.

The truth is, none of us fully know what’s in McMillan’s mind and heart. It’s entirely up to T-Mac to prove the Panthers right and the haters wrong.

Like Carolina’s decision-makers, I’m inclined to bet on him, not against him.