The 2025 NFL Draft is approaching and Tetairoa McMillan is one of the top prospects on the board. This is a breakdown of how McMillan profiles for the NFL and where he could potentially land.
Tetairoa McMillan NFL Draft Profile
Physical Traits/College Film
McMillan, who goes by Tet, is a six-foot-five, 210-pound wide receiver from the University of Arizona who was incredibly productive in his three seasons in Tucson. At Arizona, McMillan hauled in 213 passes for 3,423 yards and 26 scores, leading the Pac-12 in yards per reception as a freshman in 2022 and the Big 12 in receiving yards in 2024, although his production didn’t result in many wins for the Wildcats. Because Arizona missed out on any bowl games this season, his performance this weekend at the NFL Combine will be critical, especially given his quieter performances against some of the better teams the Wildcats faced this season.
McMillan’s size and ball skills stand out on tape. During Arizona’s season-opening game, a 61-39 win over New Mexico, McMillan had his best game of the season, a 10-catch, 304-yard, four-touchdown masterpiece despite a few mediocre throws from quarterback Noah Fifita. He’s elite on jump balls, thanks to his size, and he regularly found ways to get into open space to make Fifita’s job easier. But he doesn’t have elite top-end speed and struggled to create separation against elite cornerbacks like Travis Hunter, the eventual Heisman Trophy winner, and in the Colorado game, he also took himself out of plays once Fifita looked elsewhere. He’ll need to improve on his route-running and agility in order to maximize his strengths at the NFL level.
NFL Comparisons
Realistic Comp: Drake London – The Atlanta Falcons’ primary target is almost universally considered McMillan’s top realistic comparison, given their similar frames and playing styles. London is one inch shorter than McMillan and three pounds heavier, and like McMillan, he was thought to have mediocre speed but elite ball skills coming out of USC. With the Trojans, London was a great jump-ball threat because of his body control and high-pointing ability, much like McMillan, especially in 2023. If McMillan gets off to as good of a start as London has, he’ll be just fine; during the 2024 season, London recorded 100 catches for 1,271 yards and nine scores and should be a reliable target for Michael Penix Jr. for years to come.
Ceiling Comp: Mike Evans – For McMillan’s ceiling comp, I’ll go with another No. 1 receiver in the NFC South. Prior to the 2013 Draft, Evans was known to compensate for his lackluster speed with elite ball skills and an incredible contested-catch ability, just like McMillan. Although he was 21 pounds heavier than McMillan and therefore a more potent threat after the catch, he needed to refine his route-running and versatility in order to succeed in the NFL. It’s unlikely that McMillan replicates Evans’ production in the pros — after all, Evans is a future first-ballot Hall of Famer and could set the all-time record for 1,000-yard receiving seasons by the time he retires — but a few seasons in an NFL strength program should help McMillan leverage his length.
Potential Landing Spots
These are the teams that are the most likely landing spots for Tetairoa McMillan:
Las Vegas Raiders – Because of his physical limitations, it’s unlikely that McMillan will go in the top five, especially with the New York Giants and Jacksonville Jaguars — picking third and fifth, respectively — both having secured top wide receivers during the 2024 Draft. But the Raiders badly need another receiving target to help alleviate the burden on tight end Brock Bowers, who had a historic rookie season despite catching passes from Gardner Minshew, Aidan O’Connell, and Desmond Ridder. Jakobi Meyers is fine and put up a career-best season in 2024, but he doesn’t have the size or nose for the end zone as McMillan does. If Shedeur Sanders is off the board, Las Vegas could easily bring McMillan up US-93 to Sin City.
Carolina Panthers – In his final 10 games, quarterback Bryce Young completed 62.0% of his passes for 2,100 yards, 15 touchdowns, and six interceptions, showing enough flashes to enter his third season as Carolina’s supposed quarterback of the future. Where the Panthers need help is on the defensive line and at wide receiver, especially with Adam Thielen turning 35 before the start of next season. Xavier Legette, last season’s 32nd overall pick, was mediocre in his rookie season, although undrafted receiver Jalen Coker showed some flashes. McMillan fits the timelines of Young, Legette, and Coker.
New Orleans Saints – The Saints pick ninth overall, and although they have some wide receiver talent, McMillan would help fill some holes. New Orleans’ top target is Chris Olave, who was pretty good in his first two seasons before suffering two concussions in four weeks and being ruled out for the remainder of his third season. He’s complemented by Rashid Shaheed, an All-Pro kick returner who suffered a meniscus injury that ended his season after six weeks. Shaheed is a speedster and Olave is, like McMillan, a possession receiver, but Olave is five inches shorter than McMillan. Plus, New Orleans is in a horrible cap situation and desperately needs a cost-controlled, high-upside wideout.
Dallas Cowboys – The problem for Dallas, besides Dak Prescott’s hamstring injury, is that they don’t have a lot of wide receiver depth besides CeeDee Lamb. Brandin Cooks, the Cowboys’ nominal No. 2 target, was never and elite wide receiver and certainly isn’t now that he’s on the wrong side of 30. He’s also five-foot-10 and probably best suited to stick in the slot. Jalen Tolbert is better than Cooks, but he, too, was pretty inconsistent last season. McMillan would immediately become the No. 2 receiver and can take some pressure off Lamb, allowing for him to resume his more natural deep-threat role. Dallas doesn’t have a ton of cap space and needs cheap talent to compete with the Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Commanders, especially with Micah Parsons’ extension looming.
