Panthers WR Chris Brazzell II answers predraft concerns 

TENNESSEE ATHLETICS

The Carolina Panthers believe receiver Chris Brazzell II's speed and competitiveness as a pass-catcher will translate to the NFL.

Chris Brazzell II could provide the Carolina Panthers’ evolving offense with a deep threat Bryce Young covets. 

If, that is, the rookie wide receiver “can hold it together,” as one NFL Draft analyst suggested moments after general manager Dan Morgan made his third-round selection April 24. ESPN’s Adam Schefter utilized the term “maturity” during a pre-draft take on the former Tennessee standout.  

Hold it together? 

Maturity? 

Certainly, those terms could be deemed red flags, along with reports that surfaced last August when Brazzell was arrested after a traffic stop near campus in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Team research started in earnest.

After carefully cultivating Carolina’s locker-room culture, coach Dave Canales confirmed Brazzell confidently cleared the club’s pre-draft character concerns. 

“It was just a matter of us getting to know the guy, how he learns, how he relates from a personal standpoint,” Canales said after Saturday’s practice. “And we did the work. We had him at the combine in the formal meetings. We brought him in for a (top) 30 visit. We followed up with Zooms. Just to check all those boxes of, ‘This is a guy we would love to work with.’” 

Brazzell displays razzle and dazzle 

Brazzell proved plenty during his NFL baptism last week. 

Competing against draft picks, undrafted free agents and other first-year prospects, the 6-foot-4, 189-pounder flashed his speed and catch radius. After getting a close look at the second-generation NFL player during practices, the Panthers were left with few concerns about his potential.  

“He’s a heck of an athlete, a different type of level, for sure,” undrafted rookie quarterback Haynes King said. “He makes plays. He’s made plays throughout this camp.” 
King, who played at Georgia Tech, didn’t know Brazzell before minicamp, but left impressed. 

“We’ve had conversations and I’ve gotten to know him over this weekend,” King said. “He’s a great person. He’s funny, for sure.” 

But not mistake-free.  

Brazzell’s legal problems stemmed from driving with a suspended license after failing to appear in court regarding a speeding ticket. When asked for his side of the story by reporters, Brazzell came clean and admitted making a mistake. 

“Long story short, I just really didn’t know my license was suspended,” he said. “It wasn’t one of those things where I was driving around with a suspended license like a dummy. In the state of Tennessee, they issue you a suspended license and never tell you, so, my license was suspended for like a year and a half. And I don’t get pulled over a lot. So, it took me a year again to get pulled over again, and (I realized), ‘Dang, my license is suspended?’ I was in jail for like 30 minutes. No bond. Leaving with a ticket. Went in there and walked out. It was a learning lesson. Just pay your tickets on time. That’s it.” 

GM Dan Morgan did predraft homework 

Since taking over the organization in 2024, Morgan and Canales have often stressed the need to build the roster with character players who possess on-field skills. Brazzell flashed 4.37-second speed in the 40-yard dash and, despite playing in the run-and-gun Volunteers offense, is confident in his route-running ability. 

After starting his college career at Tulane, Brazzell spent two seasons at Tennessee, breaking out with 62 receptions for 1,017 yards and nine touchdowns last season, earning All-America and All-SEC honors. 

Morgan and the scouting crew did their research on Brazzell, who developed into one of Canales’ “favorite” prospects.  

“Yeah, they asked me (about the arrest), but they understand,” Brazzell said. “I’m not a troublemaker. I’m 22 now, and that’s my only experience with the law. Like I said, pay your speeding tickets on time.” 

During his brief time with the Panthers, Brazzell drew early comparisons to former receiver Robbie Anderson. Canales didn’t fall into the question trap but anticipates Brazzell could develop into an Anderson-type receiver.

Anderson’s best season was in 2020 with the Panthers when he posted 95 catches for 1,096 yards and three touchdowns. Forty-nine catches resulted in first downs. 

"I try to stay away from comparisons, but I’ll be fair – tall guy like that with the speed that he has, there are some similarities there," Canales said. “And Robbie was able to make an impact pretty early with his ability to capture the offense. That’s the challenge that’s out there for Chris. How quickly can we get him up to speed in our concepts? There’s a lot of things he’s gotta work on.”

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