Panthers spring a surprise by drafting WR Tet McMillan

ARIZONA ATHLETICS

Tet McMillan, a 2024 first team All-America who is Arizona's career receiving yards leader with 3,423, was drafted eighth overall by the Carolina Panthers.

Standing on the 2025 NFL Draft stage in Green Bay, Panthers first-round draft pick Tetairoa McMillan pointed to a group of Carolina fans and shouted: “Come on ... come on, man.”

As it turned out, that was the sentiment of the Panthers brass – and quarterback Bryce Young. As California natives whose high school teams played on national television during Young’s senior season, the two met for the first time a month ago.

They have been developing chemistry since “T-Mac” first ran routes for Young during a quarterback camp.

“We were getting a head start,” McMillan said during a video conference after being selected eighth overall. “I’ll tell you right now, that Cali connection will be something different.”

McMillan received a good recommendation and Young “stood on a table” for the former record-setting Arizona standout. Young, the 2023 first overall pick spoke repeatedly with general manager Dan Morgan and coach Dave Canales regarding his new receiver.

“I give credit to Bryce for vouching for me,” McMillan said, adding he heard Young went their offices to share his feelings. “We need to pick this guy.”

Morgan proved a good listener.

Panthers select WR for second straight year 

Entering the three-day spectacle, most draftniks’ talk surrounding the Panthers’ prospects was angled toward improving the defense, which was the league’s worst last season. Specifically, most league insiders pegged the Panthers to pick a pass rusher.  

Instead, despite offers to trade back and garner additional trade assets, Morgan went receiver for the second straight year. He traded into the first round last season to select Xavier Legette.

While Young may have helped tip the decision, Morgan and Canales, a former receivers coach, targeted McMillan from the start. The more research they did, the more they liked. Carolina had him at the top of their draft board and stuck to their plan.  

“Unless somebody blew us out of the water on something, we weren’t going to let our guy pass,” Canales said. “We follow the board. You rank the players how you like them. You stay true.”

During the scouting process, Canales said the 6-foot-4 McMillan will add a needed dimension to the Panthers' offense. The 2024 first-team All-America finished his career with an Arizona program-record 3,423 receiving yards.

“He was there for the taking,” Morgan said. “We wanted to follow our board. We got our guy.”

The draft continues Friday with Rounds 2-3 and Saturday with Rounds 4-7. Don't be surprised if the Panthers focus mainly on defense, especially the defensive line and safety rooms, the rest of the way.   

“Still a need we have eight more picks,” Morgan said. 

Canales on WRs: ‘We got a basketball team’ 

McMillan, who was born in Waimanalo, Hawaii, and grew up in Anaheim, California, is entering an interesting situation. The receiver room could develop into a major asset if Young, who grew up in Pasadena, California, continues the upward trend he started over the second half of last season. 

Adam Thielen is expected to continue mentoring the young receivers. The veteran developed chemistry with fellow undrafted free agent Jalen Coker, who enjoyed a breakout rookie campaign. Then there's Legette, the enigmatic 2024 first-round pick who endured an up-and-down first season. As a unit, Canales described the receiver room, featuring 6-3 Legette, 6-3 Coker, and 6-2 Thielen in a unique fashion. 

 
“Shoot, you got a basketball team going on right now,” Canales said. “Tet brings us this really long target to round out the group. “It’s a cool group to think about. We’re getting football players. Getting dawgs. I felt like we got that in Tet.”

For McMillan, meeting Young for the first time last month proved to be a full-circle moment. In 2019, Young’s nationally ranked Mater Dei squad faced McMillan's Servite High on national television. Young, then a national recruit, led his club to a 56-11 win.   

“He’s one of the best players I’ve seen in my life," said McMillan, who was listed at 6-5 by Pro Football Focus. “He was someone I looked up to growing up. The sky’s the limit for us in this offense. I feel like this is the year he's going to blow up. 

“Cali-to-Cali connection. I'm ready to take the Panthers to the next level.”

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