Born Hawaiian, Tetairoa McMillan grew up in Southern California where he was a finalist for the state Gatorade Football Player of the Year. He was a five-star recruit who committed to the University of Oregon and then switched to the University of Arizona. Joining the Wildcats again paired him with his high school quarterback Noah Fifita who had already committed to the school and was a part of the reason for McMillan’s change from Oregon.
McMillan started as a freshman while the Wildcats looked for him to become an immediate game-changer using his height and receiving skills with rare speed for his size. He took over the receivers in his breakout sophomore season when his 90 catches were double that of any other Arizona receiver.
The Wildcats went 10-3 that season but then head coach Jedd Fisch left to lead Washington. For 2024, McMillan remained while the rebuilding Wildcats only managed a 4-8 record. He continued to double the production of any other receiver and still turned in a fine 1,319-yard season. He declared for the NFL draft and leaves Arizona as one of the top receivers in school history, including No. 1 with 3,423 receiving yards.
Height: 6-4
Weight: 219 pounds
40 time: 4.48 seconds (Pro Day)
McMillan was immediately considered to be one of the top wideouts – if not THE top wideout – in the 2025 draft class. He has all of the physical measureables of a future elite wideout in the NFL but changes quarterbacks for the first time since middle school.
Tetairoa McMillan stats (2022-24)
*includes postseason/bowl games (stats from Sports Reference)
Pros
- 6-4 height offers a monster catch radius and success on any contested catches
- Touchdown magnet in the red zone
- Likely an X receiver well versed on entire route tree
- Size and power allows plenty of yards-after-catch
- QB friendly even when play breaks down in the pocket
- More than just physical ability, smart receiver that knows how to work defensive backs
- Elite skills on tracking deep passes
- Strong hands that win 50/50 balls
Cons
- Fast for size, but not elite speed
- Needs to further develop beating press coverage
- Occasionally rounds off routes
Fantasy Outlook
McMillan enters the draft process with the physical characteristics and proven production that make NFL teams salivate. This is the model of a No. 1 possession receiver who can play the outside and catch passes all over the field. He would be considered an elite receiving talent regardless of size and adding in that 6-4 height and catch radius puts him over the top for potential.
He’s just as dangerous with the ball, able to power through many of the smaller defensive backs and yet with enough elusiveness to to make some defenders entirely miss when they try to tackle him.
McMillan can fit in as a team No. 1 receiver, which he’s been for his entire career or he can be added to a passing offense that already has a busy slot receiver and play the X role that forces cornerbacks and safeties to make tough coverage decisions on every pass play. He is expected to become an immediate impact player wherever he ends up.
He is expected to be selected in the top half of the first round, if not the Top-10. He’s been linked to the Carolina Panthers, Chicago Bears, Dallas Cowboys, New York Jets, and Jacksonville Jaguars.
One aspect to McMillan has to be mentioned, if only because it may impact how NFL teams view him as an expensive early draft pick. A clip from a 2023 podcast appearance had him asked if he liked football, to which he responded, “No, not at all.” And he said that he did not personally study film because the team would go over it anyway. That may not be true or an issue of any kind, as many NFL players are performing a job that pays incredibly well as incentive enough. But it’s an unfortunate potential ding on him.
