2026 NFL Draft: Panthers select speedy Tennessee WR Chris Brazzell II
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2026 NFL Draft: Panthers select speedy Tennessee WR Chris Brazzell II originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Carolina Panthers provided help for quarterback Bryce Young.
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By selecting Tennessee wide receiver Chris Brazzell II in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh on Friday, Panthers general manager Dan Morgan supplied Young with an additional outside weapon.
While the Panthers' top two wide receivers, 2025 rookie of the year Tetairoa McMillan and Jalen Coker, are known for exploiting holes in coverage, Brazzell will be expected to create space with his speed and athleticism.
A first-team All-SEC performer last season, Brazzell posted 62 receptions for 1,017 yards and nine touchdowns.
Brazzell's scouting report reads: "He has deceptively good accelaration off the line of scrimmage," Scouts Inc. reported.
The Panthers' run-first offense needed a player to stretch the field.
Did Morgan pull it off?
Panthers coach Dave Canales believes in the pick.
"His vertical speed was one thing I was so impressed with," Canales told reporters Friday. "His acrobatic body balance was something I fell in love with."
Panthers draft speester Chris Brazzell II in NFL Draft's 3rd round
Soon after the 2025 season ended, Morgan committed to a fifth season on Young's rookie contract. The 2023 first overall draft pick remains poised to open negotiations on a long-term extension. With the receiving corps Morgan is assembling, Young may want to stick around.
Young finished with a career high of 3,011 passing yards last season, leading the Panthers to the NFC South title and the franchise's first trip to the playoffs since 2017.
The Panthers drafted Georgia offensive tackle Monroe Freeling with the No. 19 overall selection Thursday and Texas Tech nose guard Lee Hunter in the second round (49th overall),
After focusing on the offensive and defensive fronts, Morgan turned his attention to adding another playmaker for Young.
"Now we got a guy who's really tall and fast," Canales said.