ESPN’s Bowen: Arizona’s Tetairoa McMillan is best fit for Denver Broncos in NFL Draft

After back-to-back 1,300-yard seasons in Tuscon, Arizona wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan has established himself as the top receiver prospect in the draft. At 6-foot-4, 219 pounds, McMillan uses his size over smaller cornerbacks in the league and wins 50-50 balls.

With those traits, ESPN NFL writer Matt Bowen says McMillan is the perfect fit for the Denver Broncos at the 20th overall pick.

McMillan fits in Denver as a big slot target for quarterback Bo Nix. It’d be very similar to how coach Sean Payton used receiver Marques Colston in New Orleans. McMillan can stretch the seams, run the deep overs and create interior matchup advantages with his high-rising ability at the catch point and great ball skills. He’s a long strider who is more smooth than fast. McMillan caught 174 passes over his final two seasons in Arizona, including 18 touchdowns.

While he is not a burner, as McMillan ran a reported 4.48-second 40-yard dash — he uses his strength in smaller windows on the field to make the contested catch.

In McMillan’s final season at Arizona, he recorded 84 receptions, 1,319 yards and eight touchdowns, finishing third in the nation in total receiving yards and leading the Big 12.

His production of 16.1 yards per reception, 71 catches, 1,141 yards and 8.7 touchdowns average per season is comparable to Colston’s NFL averages.

Colston tallied 13.7 yards per reception, 83 catches, 1,136 yards and eight touchdowns in a 17-game season average.

Notably, McMillan is the only wide receiver on Bowen’s list of favorite team fits for the top 20 prospects in the Draft.

Is it realistic for Tetairoa McMillan to fall to the Denver Broncos?

Probably not. Many mock drafts project the former Wildcat receiver as the first receiver off the board (depending on how you classify Travis Hunter) as a top 15 pick.

NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah has McMillan as the 18th-ranked prospect in the draft and the second true wide receiver in the list after Texas’ Matthew Golden.

McMillan is a tall, rangy receiver with a Drake London-like skill set. He primarily lines up outside, though he’ll take some reps in the slot. He lacks ideal suddenness or burst in his release, but he’s a smooth, easy mover. His tape is littered with contested catches. Some of that spawns from an inability to consistently create separation, but it’s also because he’s so comfortable using his plus size to win 50/50 balls. He has outstanding body control and high-point skills. His catch radius is a real weapon in the red zone. He’s been productive after the catch because of his strength and physicality. Overall, I thought London played with more urgency as a prospect, but McMillan has the potential to provide a similar impact at the next level.

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