The Carolina Panthers created some waves by taking Arizona receiver Tetairoa McMillan with the eighth overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. While McMillan was seen as the top receiver in this year’s class, many mock drafts expected the Panthers to take an edge rusher at No. 8.
McMillan had a narrative that he didn’t love football growing against him in the leadup to the draft, and Carolina’s GM, Dan Morgan, recently appeared on The Pat McAfee Show to set the record straight.
Carolina GM Has Simple Response When Asked if Tetairoa McMillan Loves Football
The Panthers had an encouraging finish to the 2024 season and secured the eighth overall pick with a 5-12 record. Bryce Young finished No. 28 in PFSN’s QB+ metric and resurrected his career after being benched early in the season.
Young had a 0.58 EPA/DB and a 50% third-down conversion rate for the season, and was excellent from a clean pocket (0.60 EPA/DB; fourth), when pressured (0.46 EPA/DB; fifth), and with the game on the line (0.63 EPA/DB; fifth). However, the Panthers knew they needed to get their quarterback more help.
Chubba Hubbard was the team’s most productive player, posting 1,195 yards and 10 rushing touchdowns, while adding 43 receptions, 171 yards, and one score through the air. After that, there wasn’t much else for the Panthers to hang their hat on offensively.
Adam Theilen was the team’s leading receiver with 615 yards and five touchdowns. Xavier Legette led the way with 49 receptions but only had 497 yards and four scores. The unit finished No. 24 in PFSN’s Offense+ metric last season, and Morgan targeted that group with his first pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
The Panthers took McMillan and are hoping he can immediately impact the offense. The Arizona product measured 6’4 1/8″, 219 pounds at the 2025 Scouting Combine, and finished his college career with two highly productive seasons.
McMillan put up 84 receptions, 1,319 yards, and eight touchdowns in his final season at Arizona. This came on the heels of 90 catches, 1,402 yards, and 10 touchdowns as a true sophomore the year before.
Pat McAfee recently had Morgan on his show and wanted to discuss the eighth overall pick.
"We love everything about Tet McMillan..
We're extremely excited about him"
Dan Morgan #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/OikgP0QDcC
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow)
McAfee brought up reports during the pre-draft process that McMillan didn’t love football, and asked if Morgan discussed that with his first-round pick.
Morgan responded, “I think part of that’s probably people’s way of trying to get him a little lower on the draft board. I think a lot of people liked him. For us, we were really thorough in the process. We brought him in for a 30-visit. We met with him at the Combine. We loved everything about him, not only as a player, but as a person.
“He’s super competitive. He’s super smart. He’s tough. He does all the things you’re looking for in a number one wide receiver. So, we’re extremely excited about him.”
Morgan’s comments should put the case against McMillan to rest, and now the rookie can focus on learning Carolina’s playbook. He should fit in well with Legette and the returning Theilien, and could lay the foundation for Carolina’s offensive future.
