When Chris Brazzell was available for the Carolina Panthers to take in the third round of the NFL Draft this spring, general manager Dan Morgan couldn’t believe what was happening. His “WTF” reaction went viral online, as he later explained that Brazzell being available at that point in the draft was “a dream” for him.
And through the early portions of Panthers training camp, it looks like his instincts were correct. Brazzell has received strong reports coming out of Carolina with his ability to attack the football on the field. He’s been working with NFL legend Steve Smith and drew high praise from quarterback Bryce Young during voluntary workouts.
With the positive reports coming out on Brazzell over the last few weeks, it’s no surprise to see the former Tennessee wide receiver tagged as Carolina’s biggest surprise player from ESPN on Monday.
“The Panthers got some side-eye from critics when they drafted a wide receiver in the third round, with Tetairoa McMillan, the 2025 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, already on the roster. But the 6-foot-5 Brazzell, a lengthy playmaker, is making believers out of Carolina fans as an impact player in OTAs and minicamp,” ESPN writes.
More From RTI: Where Tennessee Football’s Top Two Offensive Playmakers Land in Skill Player Rankings
The term biggest surprise can go a handful of directions, but it is mostly reserved for players who have been either a bit underwhelming or a bit underutilized through the first stretch in the league. It can also be used for a veteran player who has shown to still has gas in the tank. But for a rookie to receive the nod? That’s a pretty sizeable note.
“You would’ve thought he’d been in a pro-style system throughout his whole life,” Panthers QB Bryce Young said during minicamp, via Sleeper Panthers on X. “He’s coming in, understanding splits. Understanding landmarks. Understanding route timing, route tempo, where to be at the right time. He’s playing with extension. I’ve been super impressed with the professionalism, the ability to learn stuff, the ability for everything to translate.”
Back before the draft, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that there were some teams around the league that questioned Brazzell’s maturity. On the flip side, though, Schefter noted that one general manager compared his skillset to that of Dallas Cowboys wideout George Pickens. While it’s still early in the process, it looks like the maturity issue was exaggerated, and the “elite” talent evaluation is in play.
Tennessee, for the most part, has struggled to get its wide receivers going in the NFL. It’s created a certain narrative around UT wideouts turning pro. Jalin Hyatt, Velus Jones Jr., and Dont’e Thornton have all been underwhelming to various degrees. But Brazzell could be the one who breaks that mold and becomes a breakout star for his home-state NFL team.
Brazzell played his first two seasons at Tulane before transferring to Tennessee ahead of the 2024 season. He only produced 333 yards and two touchdowns during his first season in Knoxville, but then broke out as one of the SEC’s best pass-catchers in 2025. With Joey Aguilar as the Vols’ quarterback, Brazzell racked up 1,017 yards and nine touchdowns on 62 receptions. He had the second-most receiving yards in the SEC last season.
Brazzell didn’t just produce against lower-tier competition, either. His best game of the season came against No. 6 Georgia, when he recorded 177 yards and three touchdowns on six catches. He also posted 125 yards against ETSU, 138 yards against Kentucky, and 105 yards against Mississippi State.
