Unpacking Future Packers: No. 23, Arizona WR Tetairoa McMillan

USA Today

04-04-2025

The Unpacking Future Packers Countdown is a countdown of 100 prospects who the Green Bay Packers could select in the 2025 NFL draft.
It's been 84 years since the Green Bay Packers drafted a wide receiver in the first round. Okay, it's only been 23 years since the Packers drafted Javon Walker with the 20th overall pick in the 2002 NFL Draft.
With a clear need at wide receiver, could this be the year the Packers take a wide receiver in the first round and end the drought?
'I don't think we'd ever hesitate to take a receiver in the first round if the right one was there,' Brian Gutekunst, Green Bay's general manager, said during his media availability at the NFL Scouting Combine.
The right one could be there on April 24, and his name is Tetairoa McMillan. The Arizona wide receiver checks in at No. 23 in the Unpacking Future Packers Countdown.
A five-star recruit and former three-sport athlete, McMillan recorded 39 receptions for 702 yards and eight touchdowns during his first season on campus. The following season, McMillan reeled in 90 receptions for 1,402 yards and 10 touchdowns.
This past season, McMillan recorded 84 receptions for 1,319 yards and eight touchdowns. He finished his career at Arizona with the most receiving yards in program history (3,423).
You can't teach McMillan's size (6-4, 219 pounds). With his frame and leaping ability, McMillan has a large strike zone and plays above the rim. Even when he's covered, he's open. He turns 50-50 balls into 100-0 balls and plays with a my-ball mentality. The Wildcat wide receiver outmuscles cornerbacks at the catch point and has outstanding body control. According to Pro Football Focus, he had 35 contested catches the past two seasons. He has strong mitts and great hand-eye coordination. On 130 targets this past season he had seven drops and only had two drops the year prior on 130 targets.
"His size, body control and catch radius make him so effective in contested-catch situations," Luke Easterling, an NFL Draft writer for Athlon Sports, said. "That's really his biggest strength, combining all of those traits. He's just a matchup nightmare for most defensive backs at the catch point, which makes him extremely valuable on third downs and in the red zone."
With his size, McMillan can be load for defensive backs to get to the ground. He chews up grass quickly with the ball in his hands due to his long strides. According to PFF, McMillan racked up 967 yards after the catch over past two seasons.
"He's a long strider who can eat up yards after the catch pretty quickly," Easterling said. "He's shown the vision and awareness to set up a clear path and turn short catches into bigger gains when given the space to work. He's not just a "catch it and go down" guy."
McMillan has slick footwork for a man his size. He's a smooth accelerator. He has quick and powerful strides to create separation. There are no wasted movements in his release package or in his route running. Every movement has a purpose. He has a natural feel for finding the soft spots in zone coverage and does a great job of working himself open in scramble drill situations.
With his size and athletic background, it's not surprising that McMillan was No. 23 on Bruce Feldman's Annual Freaks list. From Feldman:
"McMillan attributes his elite ball skills to his timing. He has become much faster since getting to Arizona, going from 19.8 mph to 21.8 mph in two years of a college strength program.
'T-Mac is probably the biggest freak that I've ever been around,' said Washington's Jedd Fisch, McMillan's former coach at Arizona who spent more than a decade working in the NFL. 'He doesn't have that great a vertical, but it's his coordination that is freakish. He has great hand-eye coordination. He's the best athlete I've ever seen.'
Fit with the Packers
The Packers have a solid foundation at wide receiver. Jayden Reed is a dynamic playmaker and arguably the best wide receiver currently on the roster, but battled through drop issues during his second year in the league. Dontayvion Wicks creates separation with ease but struggled with drops this past season and is likely better served being a team's No. 3 or No. 4 option. Romeo Doubs is entering the final year of his rookie contract and may not get a second contract in Green Bay. Christian Watons is also entering the final year of his rookie contract and will miss the majority of the season as he recovers from a torn ACL.
What the room is lacking is an alpha. They have a room full of sidekicks. What they need is a Batman. With his size, athleticism and hands, McMillan could become the leader of the wide receiver room at 1265 Lombardi Avenue.
"I would draft him because there are only so many human beings on the planet with his size and athleticism profile, and most of them play basketball," Easterling said. "If I'm an NFL quarterback, I'd be thrilled to have that guy on the field, especially when it's time to move the chains or put points on the board in the red zone. He's gonna be a constant headache for opposing defensive coordinators."
McMillan may not be on the board when the Packers are on the clock with the 23rd overall pick. He's a player who could go in the Top 10, or he could be the third or fourth wide receiver taken and be available when the Packers are on the clock on April 24.
A year ago, the Packers drafted Jordan Morgan, a fellow Arizona Wildcat. It marked the first time the Packers drafted an offensive lineman in the first round since 2011.
Could another Wildcat end another first-round streak? McMillan checks the boxes with his frame, athletic profile and age (he turns 22 on April 5). If he's still on the board, the Packers could have a bonafide No. 1 wide receiver for Jordan Love.