Grading The Pick: Panthers finally land a top weapon for Bryce Young who can absolutely take the top off the defense

The Carolina Panthers landed a top weapon for quarterback Bryce Young in the third-round of the 2026 NFL Draft with the selection of Tennessee wide receiver Chris Brazzell II.

Kole Noble, Tyler Forness
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Tennessee wide receiver Chris Brazzell II (17) catches the ball in the end zone for a touchdown during a NCAA football game between Tennessee and Vanderbilt at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., on Nov. 29, 2025.
Tennessee wide receiver Chris Brazzell II (17) catches the ball in the end zone for a touchdown during a NCAA football game between Tennessee and Vanderbilt at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., on Nov. 29, 2025. Angelina Alcantar/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Carolina Panthers general manager Dan Morgan said the team wouldn’t shy away from adding another wide receiver to the offense during the 2026 NFL Draft and while they didn’t get one in the first-round, they landed a great player on Day 2.

With the 83rd overall pick in the third-round, the Panthers drafted Tennessee wide receiver Chris Brazzell II, who on-the-field, looks like incredible value for Carolina.

Brazzell stands at 6-4, 198 pounds but plays with blazing speed considering his size. He can fulfill that big slot role in the Panthers offense and be an immediate game-changing weapon to help the Panthers put up serious points in 2026.

While he had some maturity questions going into the draft, the talent is undeniable and this is a really strong fit and again great value at pick No. 83.

Chris Brazzell II might have the most unique profile in the entire class. He’s built similarly to Randy Moss and has blazing speed in the same way. However, his jump ball skills aren’t anywhere close to what Moss’ were. Brazzell showcases great straight line speed to threaten defenders, and enough twitch to become a more dynamic route runner. However, the issues he shows in attacking the football in the air could limit him at the next level. He’s worth trying to develop, but the jump ball skills need to improve to truly realize it.

Tyler Forness

A to Z Sports

Panthers are stocking plenty of talent for QB Bryce Young to prove himself in 2026

The Panthers now have a lethal combination at the wide receiver position between Tetairoa McMillan, Brazzell, Xavier Legette, Jalen Coker, and John Metchie III. The top three all have tremendous size yet play very different styles from each other.

With Bryce Young going into his fourth season, it was imperative that the Panthers surrounded him with the most talent possible to see if he’s worth a franchise-caliber extension. Brazzell was easily the top pass catcher on the board and adds the speed element the Panthers were missing on offense.

Grade: A

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