Photo Credit: AP Photo/ Danny Karnik
Back in May at the University of Arizona’s indoor practice field, wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan did something that caught everyone’s attention. During a routine throwing session, the Carolina Panthers’ first-round pick leaped into the air, twisted mid-air, caught the ball with one hand, passed it between his legs from one hand to the other, and landed with a grin.
A video of the catch quickly went viral and even became part of his pregame routine.
“I try not to go one-handed in games,” McMillan said during Arizona’s Film Session. “I only do it when I have to.”
That session then showed clip after clip of McMillan making tough one-handed catches, including a highlight reel grab in double coverage against UTEP.
Bryce Young Wanted Him in Carolina
So when the 2025 NFL Draft rolled around, Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young pushed for the team to pick McMillan over a defensive player. The Panthers listened, drafting him at No. 8 overall.
“Not everybody can do that,” Panthers receivers coach Rob Moore said of McMillan’s circus-style grabs. “That’s what kind of separates him from a lot of other receivers in this class.”
Arizona receivers coach Bobby Wade, who once held the school’s record for career receiving yards until McMillan broke it, agreed.
“It’s so natural to him, I almost had to coach it out of him,” Wade said. ”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.”
Drafted to Be the No. 1 Target
McMillan’s ability to make the hard catches look easy is one reason Carolina sees him as their top receiver of the future. The team took a wideout in the first round last year too — Xavier Legette — but he didn’t quite take over that No. 1 role as a rookie.
“Every time we watched him, we’d say, ‘Another great catch,’” Panthers GM Dan Morgan said. “And just the way that he’s effortless, the way he catches the ball and he catches everything outside his frame … His body control’s some of the best I’ve seen in a while.”
Strengths and Weaknesses
Some scouts said McMillan didn’t create enough separation from defenders in college. But his size, long arms, and ability to win contested catches helped him succeed anyway.
“He’s gotten away with it in college because he has that kind of radius and the ability to make fantastic catches,” Moore said. “That’s an area that we will work on to improve, because he does have transition ability, ability to create separation.”
Wade also believes McMillan can be a true WR1 in the NFL, not just because of his hands, but also because of his toughness.
“It’s his ability to do everything, and that includes blocking,” said Wade, who played in the NFL from 2003 to 2010. “He’s going to be able to fit up with [corners] and safeties because he’s physical and wants to be tough.”
Quiet Rookie Camp, But Strong Work Ethic
McMillan, who goes by “T-Mac,” didn’t have any viral catches during Carolina’s rookie minicamp. He spent more time working closely with Moore than catching passes from undrafted rookie QB Ethan Garbers.
Still, Moore was impressed.
“I was pleased with his work ethic,” Moore said. “He works on his ability to finish, and try and be detailed. It’s one of the hardest things for young players to really dial in on the details of every play. He was really dialed in.”
Panthers head coach Dave Canales also liked what he saw.
“He looks smooth, easy to throw to — just like we thought,” Canales said.
Reminds Coaches of a Hall of Famer
McMillan said his game reminds him of future Hall of Famer Larry Fitzgerald, who made 11 Pro Bowls over 17 seasons.
Moore sees the comparison.
“The ball skills, the range, the ability to make plays in traffic — all of that is there,” he said.
Young vs. T-Mac — Then and Now
This isn’t the first time Young and McMillan crossed paths. In high school, Young led Mater Dei to a 46-37 win over McMillan’s Servite in a nationally televised game in California. The two also trained together at a quarterback camp last summer.
“I’m just fortunate that he sat on the table for me,” McMillan said of Young’s draft support. “That connection is gonna be something special.”
Panthers Needed a Receiver
Carolina’s defense was a big need, but so was wide receiver. The team finished 30th in passing yards last season and tied for 24th in 20-yard pass plays. Legette only had seven such plays, tied for 73rd in the league.
McMillan, on the other hand, led the FBS in catches of 20-plus air yards (33 over three years). He also had 145 first-down receptions, including 60 in 2023 — third-most in college football.
He can line up in any receiver spot, which veteran Adam Thielen believes will make everyone better. Moore thinks it’ll especially help Legette take a step forward.
“He’s healthy,” Moore said. “He looks fast and extremely confident. … So I have a good problem in an extremely competitive room.”
Why the Panthers Picked Him
The Panthers were confident in picking McMillan at No. 8 because other top targets — like Michigan DT Mason Graham and the top offensive tackles — were already taken. Morgan and Canales believe McMillan offers more upside than anyone else still on the board.
He may even bring his viral one-handed warmups to Carolina, especially if the chemistry with Young keeps growing.
“As an athlete that thinks you’re pretty athletic yourself, you’re thinking, ‘How can he do that?’ ” Wade said. “It’s just one of those God-given gifts. … It’s just part of his overall ability to make plays.”
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This report used information from ESPN.
