Arizona wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan (4) against West Virginia in the first half during an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024, in Tucson, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
The Carolina Panthers made the first surprising move of the 2025 NFL Draft, selecting wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan out of Arizona at No. 8 overall.
Despite speculation that the Panthers were considering trading out of the pick, it stayed put and took the second-best receiver in the class.
McMillan, 6’4″ and 219 pounds, had an outstanding career with Arizona, totaling 3,423 yards and 26 touchdowns across three seasons. He led the Big 12 in receiving yards in 2024 with 1,319, earning a consensus All-American nod.
McMillan ran a 4.53 40-yard dash at the Arizona Pro Day.
General Manager Dan Morgan said the 22-year-old receiver “has good speed” and his “hands are elite.”
This marks back-to-back drafts that the Panthers have selected a wide receiver in the first round (Xavier Legette in 2024), showing the team’s commitment to helping quarterback Bryce Young.
The Panthers’ receiver room now consists of Legette, McMillan, Jalen Coker, and Adam Thielen.
