Story by
4 reasons why WR Tetairoa McMillan is actually a perfect pick for the Panthers
- Story by
- 4 reasons why WR Tetairoa McMillan is actually a perfect pick for the Panthers
The Carolina Panthers sent a bit of a jolt through the NFL on Thursday night, selecting University of Arizona wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan with the eighth overall pick of the 2025 draft.
For much of the Carolina faithful, the choice was a pleasant surprise . But for others, well, they still need a little convincing.
Advertisement
Why, after allowing the most points ever in a single season, did your team not go with a defensive player?
And why did your team, after trading up for wideout Xavier Legette in last year's draft, allocate another first-round pick on the same position?
Those, to be fair, would be some viable concerns. So, if you have 'em, let's squash 'em.
Here are four reasons why McMillan was a perfect choice for the Panthers:
Positional value
Unless you draft them, true No. 1 receivers are extremely difficult to come by in the NFL.
We learned that this offseason, when Tee Higgins —despite a few years of uncertainty regarding his situation with the Cincinnati Bengals —never ended up hitting the open market. Instead, the talented 26-year-old, who probably had a mile-long lineup of hopeful suitors, was locked in on a four-year, $115 million extension.
Advertisement
Even the top-tier wideouts who are moved haven't been the easiest to reach. It just took the Pittsburgh Steelers a second-round pick and a massive five-year, $150 million agreement to land DK Metcalf —who the Panthers were also sniffing around on .
Carolina's interest in Metcalf should've sounded an alarm bell. They knew that they still didn't have a premier go-to target on offense, which is amongst the most valuable pieces a roster can have.
Luckily, they may have grabbed one—and on a rookie deal, no less.
Fit
The prevailing belief going into the draft, at least pertaining to the Panthers and their receivers, was that they really needed a speedster. Their offense, which averaged the third-fewest yards per attempt (6.2) in 2024, hasn't had a legitimate vertical threat for quite some time.
Advertisement
And that's still true—as is their need, again, for that No. 1 guy.
Legette, who had some costly issues with ball security in his rookie campaign, has yet to prove he can be that type of player. Instead of a prototypical X receiver, the powerful 6-foot-3, 227-pounder may be closer to the Deebo Samuel mold—where he excels most off of manufactured touches en route to long gains.
Jalen Coker , although very encouraging, can't be banked on either to this point. Say what you will about his potential, but how often do undrafted free agents become elite wideouts?
With McMillan, the Panthers may have a defined role for each of their young pass catchers now. He's the reliable high-volume X, Legette is the explosive take-it-and-go option and Coker, once soon-to-be 35-year-old Adam Thielen is through, is the trustworthy slot.
Advertisement
Credentials
So, why do we think McMillan can be the dude in that room? Well, you can start with his film.
Never mind the knocks on his long speed. The kid is 6-foot-4 and 219 pounds. Are we expecting him to be Tyreek Hill ?
The reported times of his 40-yard dash at Arizona's pro day, which ranged as high as 4.57 seconds, are trivial when you can do this in an actual game . . .
McMillan's hands and body control are also as natural and smooth as they come. This is pure butter, folks . . .
That tape is backed by elite production, something president of football operations and general manager Dan Morgan has sought out during the evaluation process. McMillan posted 702 yards and eight touchdowns in his first collegiate season, 1,402 yards and 10 touchdowns in his second and 1,319 yards and eight touchdowns in his last.
Advertisement
Check, check and check.
Oh, and if he wasn't all that great of a prospect, then why was he being targeted by multiple front offices on Thursday night? Why were the Los Angeles Rams trying to trade up from the 26th overall spot for him? Why was Dallas Cowboys star Micah Parsons incredibly disappointed when the Panthers took McMillan before his team hit the clock?
It's because he's that guy.
Bryce's guy
McMillan is also Bryce Young 's guy.
Soon after the selection was made, it became evident that Young had some input on the matter. In fact, he and McMillan had been training together in their home state of California leading up to the draft.
Advertisement
During his chat with reporters last night, McMillan noted that Young "[stood] on the table" for him. And the braintrust for the Panthers made sure Young got down safely (and happily) after making their choice . . .
Although Young may have broken out in the final 10 games of his sophomore campaign, his development should still be a top priority. They have to water their plant, and not let it sit out in the sun with what it already has.
They're now prepared to feed Young with a worthy complement in McMillan—whose reliability, frame and big-play prowess pair well with what Bryce is as a passer and what the Panthers are as an offense.
Follow @ThePanthersWire on Twitter/X for more Panthers content.
This article originally appeared on Panthers Wire: NFL draft: Why Tetairoa McMillan is the perfect pick for the Panthers
