🐾 Panthers Make Their Move
The Carolina Panthers added another offensive weapon Thursday night, selecting wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan out of Arizona with the No. 8 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
McMillan becomes the third wide receiver the Panthers have taken in the Top 50 over the last three years. The 6-foot-4 pass catcher brings size, body control, and elite ball skills to a team looking to give quarterback Bryce Young more options.
And the chemistry may already be forming. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported Thursday night that McMillan has been “quietly throwing with QB Bryce Young in LA. The two are already developing a connection.”
📊 College Career Highlights
At Arizona, McMillan racked up 213 catches, 3,423 receiving yards and 26 touchdowns — becoming the program’s all-time receiving leader. He earned First-Team All-Big 12 honors in 2024 and was named a consensus All-American. This past season, he posted 84 receptions for 1,319 yards and eight touchdowns, averaging 109.9 yards per game.
🌺 Polynesian Pride
Off the field, McMillan is proud of his Polynesian heritage. Born in Waimānalo, Hawaii, he became the first Arizona Wildcat to earn the prestigious Polynesian College Football Player of the Year award in 2024. “Being Polynesian is special,” McMillan told Polynesian Music Network. “I’m just glad to be Hawaiian.”
🧠 Scouting + Fit in Carolina
CBS Sports noted that Carolina continues to invest heavily in surrounding Young with offensive talent: “Carolina is not concerned with putting a dynamic defensive product on the field. They want to ensure Bryce Young has a variety of outlets to continue his development.”
McMillan joins a receiving corps that includes veteran Adam Thielen and 2024 second-round pick Xavier Legette. He figures to compete for snaps right away as a big-bodied red zone target and vertical threat.
McMillan becomes the first receiver selected inside the top 20. Carolina does have a history of grabbing wideouts in the first round, including Legette (32nd a year ago), DJ Moore (24th) and Kelvin Benjamin (28th)
Watch Tetairoa McMillan speak to the media. https://t.co/7waQPiEhSW — Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) April 25, 2025
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