NFL teams, especially those picking high in the 2025 NFL Draft, will soon look to the Combine to bolster their rosters.
Currently sitting with the No. 4 overall pick, the New England Patriots are building for the future with a new head coaching hire in former Patriots lineman and Tennessee Titans head coach, Mike Vrabel, and promising second-year QB Drake Maye.
However, New England has holes at nearly every other spot — including wide receiver — and according to one insider, there’s a certain prospect set to turn heads at the Combine.
Tetairoa McMillan Will ‘Blow the Lid Off’ NFL Combine
Boston Sports Journal’s Ric Serritella spoke recently about WR draft prospect Tetairoa McMillan, saying that he is primed to “blow the lid off” the NFL Combine.
Standing at 6’5″, McMillan is a versatile receiver who can line up outside, in the slot, and even attached at the hip of the tight end, so he can maximize mismatches against nickel corners and linebackers.
The prospect is a big-bodied pass catcher with an outstanding catch radius and hands. As a former basketball player, he plays the game similar to a power forward, always knowing how to position himself in front of the defender to make a play on the football.
McMillan has rare ball skills and is an outstanding contested catch and red-zone threat, and for a team like the Patriots, the addition of McMillan could be the difference they need.
According to Serritella, the bottom line is that
Where’s McMillan Projected?
With the start of the Combine still more than a week away, receivers like McMillan will be under the microscope. And once late April rolls around, if the Patriots choose to shore up their defensive line, for example, what would that mean for McMillan, who is not expected to last deep into the draft?
According to projections by PFSN, the big-bodied threat could find himself catching balls from Derek Carr. The New Orleans Saints’ offense was devastated by injuries last year, especially at the wide receiver position.
Chris Olave was expected to continue to be a fixture, but his concussion issues are mounting, while Rashid Shaheed was shut down with a knee injury last year.
That opens the door for McMillan to come in and be the leader of this receiving group to boost an offense that ranked 22nd last year in our Offense+ metric.
McMillan is a tall, fluid receiver with excellent hands and route-running ability. He thrives in contested-catch situations but also showcases surprising flexibility in his routes.
While he lacks elite post-catch explosiveness, his size, technical skill, and long strides make him a reliable chain-mover. McMillan may not be a true NFL No. 1, but he has the tools to be a consistent outside threat at the next level. Regardless of where he lands, however, the whole league will have their eyes on him come Feb. 27.