Arizona Wildcats WR Tetairoa McMillan drafted by the Carolina Panthers 8th overall

Tetairoa McMillan, the Arizona Wildcats’ all-time leading receiver, was selected by the Carolina Panthers with the eighth overall pick in the NFL Draft Thursday.

He is the second Arizona player to go in the first round in as many seasons, following offensive lineman Jordan Morgan, who was picked 25th in 2024 by the Green Bay Packers.

Before Morgan, the Wildcats hadn’t had a player drafted in the first round since Antoine Cason went No. 27 overall to the San Diego Chargers in 2008.

McMillan piled up 3,423 receiving yards and 26 touchdowns in just three seasons at Arizona after he landed there as the program’s highest-rated recruit in program history. Playing alongside 1,000-yard receivers Dorian Singer and Jacob Cowing as a freshman in 2022, McMillan still accounted for 702 yards and eight scores.

Alongside Servite High School teammate and quarterback Noah Fifita his sophomore season, McMillan blew up.

In 2023, McMillan made 90 catches for 1,402 yards and 10 touchdowns to help Arizona complete a turnaround under then-head coach Jedd Fisch. The Wildcats went 10-3 before Fisch jetted for Washington.

McMillan and Fifita played a crucial part in keeping a large chunk of the roster from entering the transfer portal with new head coach Brent Brennan hired for the 2024 season, but the team scuffled to a 4-8 season.

While the criticism went toward Brennan and his new staff, McMillan did his part to keep the team afloat, posting 1,319 yards on 84 catches.

Tetairoa McMillan’s NFL Draft profile

At 6-foot-4 and 219 pounds, McMillan uses his size to the utmost advantage.

While he is not a speed burner and discredits his leaping ability, his stretchs are in tracking balls and getting space to make contested catches, according to NFL.com draft analyst Lance Zierlein:

Possession receiver with the size and ball skills to create big wins deep. He’s a linear route-runner who wears press coverage early and coasts too often on deep routes, but he has a feel for uncovering underneath and can play over the top of cornerbacks for easier jump-ball wins. McMillan is instinctive with a feel for adjusting his routes and working back on throws to make the quarterback’s job easier.

McMillan’s 2.1% drop rate was the lowest among Power 5 receivers with at least 100 targets in 2023, according to PFF.

An AFC team’s scouting director told Zierlein that the 2023 tape is more representative of McMillan’s game after he dealt with a lingering leg injury from spring onward in 2024.

McMillan earned an invite to the NFL Draft and on ESPN’s big board is the top available reciever in the class after Colorado two-way star Travis Hunter.

Related

2025 NFL Draft live blog: Jaxson Dart the second QB picked, Shedeur Sanders still on the boardTravis Hunter's pink jacket among NFL Draft prospects dazzling on red carpetIldemaro Vargas walks off Athletics in extra innings, Diamondbacks move into tie for wild card spotArizona’s Tommy Lloyd not interested in NBA after UNC interestDiamondbacks top pick Ryder Helfrick gets major league preview: ‘It was unreal’Cardinals enter new season with major lack of elite talent