2026 NFL Draft: Panthers select speedy Tennessee WR Chris Brazzell II

TL;DR

The Carolina Panthers selected Tennessee WR Chris Brazzell II in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft, providing quarterback Bryce Young with a speedy new weapon. Brazzell, a first-team All-SEC performer, recorded 62 receptions for 1,017 yards and nine touchdowns last season.

Key points

Panthers selected Chris Brazzell II in the 2026 NFL Draft
Brazzell is a wide receiver from Tennessee
He had 62 receptions for 1,017 yards and nine touchdowns last season
Brazzell is expected to support quarterback Bryce Young
He was a first-team All-SEC performer

Mentioned in this story

Tennessee

Carolina PanthersChris Brazzell IIBryce YoungTetairoa McMillan

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.

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."