Panthers great Steve Smith Sr. gives thoughts on team's new pick at WR

What does the Carolina Panthers' all-time leading receiver think about the team's newest receiver?

Steve Smith Sr. took out some time from a golf event at Quail Hollow on Wednesday to talk with The Charlotte Observer. Here's what he told team beat reporter Mike Kaye about wideout Chris Brazzell II, Carolina's third-round pick from the 2026 NFL Draft:

“That’s the best thing about any business — is you hire specialists,” Smith said. “You hire each individual guy that really does a good job in that (specific) area. Chris Brazzell is a deep threat, down the field, 50-50 ball (specialist). It’s not a 50-50 ball when it’s thrown to him. He can get past you. He was excellent at Tulane. My only criticism would be, in years past, some of the Tennessee Volunteers wide receivers have not always had the same amount of production in the league that they’ve had in college."

Brazzell's production at Knoxville was good enough to earn him a first-team All-SEC nod in 2025, where he recorded 62 catches for 1,017 yards and a conference-leading nine touchdowns. He also put up noteworthy stats during his last season for Tulane in 2023, reeling in 44 balls for 711 yards and five scores en route to a third-team All-AAC nod.

The Panthers' offense could use some of those results for their offense—which ranked 27th in points, total yards and yards per passing attempt. So Carolina's need for a deep threat is apparent, and the speedy 6-foot-4, 198-pounder may be able to give them that.

But to Smith, Brazzell's impact could be less of a numbers game and more of an eye test as he acclimates to the pros.

“I don’t know the young kid, I’m obviously going to get to know him —but I choose to not speak to players during this (evaluation) process because I like my professional opinion to be formed by watching film — not by liking a kid or disliking a kid," he added. "And more than anything, I love all of these kids because you get to see them grow.”