The Carolina Panthers made waves when they drafted Tetairoa McMillan, the best receiver in the country from the University of Arizona. They selected him with the eighth overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Few players show the sort of physicality that McMillan provides at 6-foot-4, 219 pounds. His transcendental talents have caused more than a few observers to compare him to Hall of Famer Larry Fitzgerald. His college football resume includes gaudy numbers and highlight reel after highlight one. On the surface, these accomplishments lead to the conclusion that he may be a game-changer himself for the Panthers.
In short, McMillan has shown he can be a difference maker at the next level. Somehow, over the past three seasons he has caught 33 passes thrown at least 20 yards in the air, a mark that ranks tied for first in the history of the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS). He’s an expert at finishing on pivotal plays. That ability to create is perfectly illustrated by his 145 career receiving first downs, with 60 coming in the 2023 campaign — third-most of any CFB player.
The Panthers felt confident with their decision to select McMillan after receiving a ringing endorsement from quarterback Bryce Young. Palmer was highly influential in convincing new general manager Dan Morgan and head coach Dave Canales to draft the dynamic wideout with their first-round selection. Young’s confidence in McMillan stems from the latter’s ability to make difficult catches appear routine, a skill that the coaching staff believes will enhance the team’s offensive capabilities.
Rob Moore, the Panthers’ receivers coach, highlighted McMillan’s unique skill set, stating, “That’s what kind of separates him from a lot of other receivers in this class.” Moore has spent a lot of individual time with McMillan. His hope is that this tailored attention will push McMillan’s rapid development and raw promise toward greater consistency and professionalism.
Bobby Wade, Arizona’s receivers coach, expressed confidence in McMillan’s potential. “There wasn’t a practice that we probably didn’t get through in a competitive period where he didn’t have a one-handed catch on a kid,” Wade noted, emphasizing how natural such plays have become for McMillan. He added, “It’s so natural to him that I almost had to coach that out of him.”
One of McMillan’s infectious skills landed him in a uniquely viral video. It featured his ridiculous one-handed catch inside the University of Arizona’s indoor practice facility. It’s his ability to make those highlight-reel plays that have everyone buzzing. Objectively though, it’s further solidified his reputation as a game-changing player.
Even after some claimed his days of separating from defenders were numbered, McMillan has kept making the naysayers look foolish. He made an incredible one-handed catch in double coverage during a game against the University of Texas-El Paso, demonstrating that he can perform under pressure and deliver when it matters most.
In addition to being a versatile player who can occupy all three receiver positions, McMillan enjoys engaging with fans and prefers to be called “TMAC.” He’s taken it a step further with a one-handed catches-centric, elaborate and impressive pregame warmup routine. This is a great example of his ability to make tough plays seem easy.
I just don’t like to play one-handed [in games],” said McMillan. He clarified that he only resorts to such techniques when absolutely necessary: “I only do it when I have to.” This careful approach signifies his understanding of when to showcase his skills while maintaining focus on team objectives.
As McMillan makes the jump to the NFL, there’s a lot of hope riding on him. His unique blend of size, athleticism and exceptional catching ability is what sets him apart. He has all the tools to be one of Bryce Young’s top targets in no time. The Panthers’ coaching staff believes McMillan has the potential to be a game changer on their offense. They’ll be paying very close attention to how he performs in training camp.
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