Where Will Tetairoa McMillan Land in the Draft?

The 2025 NFL Draft is about seven weeks away. Univeristy of Arizona Tetairoa McMillan is virtually guaranteed to be the first wide receiver off the board — if one considered Colorado’s Travis Hunter a cornerback. Hunter has both skill sets, CB and WR.

Where Will Tetairoa McMillan Land in the Draft?

This year’s WR class isn’t quite as deep as previous years, instead featuring a bonanza of wonderful running backs.

But McMillan has to go somewhere, probably to a team in the Top 10. So, these are McMillan’s most likely landing spots on April 24th.

5. Carolina Panthers

Carolina will employ Xavier Legette, Jalen Coker, and Adam Thielen at wide receiver in 2025, barring an unforeseen release of somebody like Thielen.

A quarterback like Patrick Mahomes or Josh Allen could probably cook with that threesome, but the Panthers drafting McMillan at pick No. 8 would be all about surrounding third-year passer Bryce Young with “the more, the merrier” talent.

In all likelihood, the Panthers won’t even get a chance to entertain McMillan in the draft — he’ll be gone before No. 8 — and they’ll draft cornerback Will Johnson or EDGE Shemar Stewart. But the Panthers must be included, just in case.

4. New Orleans Saints

Chris Olave and Rashid Shaeed fill the top WR jobs in New Orleans, and that’s fine and dandy. But let’s face it: Shaheed is an electric WR3 type, not a WR2.

If New Orleans selects McMillan, he’d instantly battle Olave for the WR1 job, a gig he might just win due to Olave’s recent injury history.

Quarterback Derek Carr could flourish with Olave and McMillan on Sundays, so Saints fans might hope McMillan tumbles all the way to pick No. 9.

3. New York Jets

The Jets’ offseason has involved Garrett Wilson trade rumors, Aaron Rodgers’ departure from the organization, two new leadership faces in general manager Darren Mougey and head coach Aaron Glenn, and this week’s release of Davante Adams.

The Adams trial in New York emphatically flunked.

Whether New York holds onto Wilson — it probably will — the Jets need a running mate for him, and McMillan is perfect for the task. The seventh pick would be prime draft real estate for McMillan if he makes it past the next team.

2. Las Vegas Raiders

The Raiders need a QB1, WR1, and RB1 this offseason. Sheesh.

Therefore, they might sign free-agent-to-be quarterback Sam Darnold, add running back Najee Harris on the open market, and then turn to the draft for a playmaking wide receiver.

McMillan is precisely that playmaking pass-catcher — with a Mike Evans-like upside. If the Raiders don’t draft Ashton Jeanty or Shedeur Sanders, pencil McMillan in here.

1. New England Patriots

Among many roster needs, the Patriots need a tried-and-true WR1 for Drake Maye. Patriots fans already rest easy knowing that Maye is the quarterback of the future. Now, they need his primary target.

These are New England’s wide receivers under contract for 2025:

• Kendrick Bourne
• DeMario Douglas
• Kayshon Boutte
• Javon Baker
• Ja’Lynn Polk
• JaQaue Jackson

By NFL standards, this is an utterly horrendous group. Get McMillan at pick No. 4, and make the choice simple. Maye needs weaponry.

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Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the Minnesota Vikings, with 4-7 episodes per week. His NFL obsession dates back to 1989. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL. 

All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.