The Tampa Bay Buccaneers made it five straight playoff appearances in 2024, with Mike Evans and Chris Godwin as the heartbeat of their offense in recent years. The Jacksonville Jaguars head coach, Liam Coen, was the Bucs’ offensive coordinator last season, and given the success Tampa Bay has seen with the fiery receiving duo, he is predicted to recreate a similar formula to bring success to his new team.
Coen already has a Godwin-type receiver in Brian Thomas Jr., and one mock draft predicts he will select Arizona’s Tetairoa McMillan in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Jaguars Projected To Select Tetairoa McMillan in 2025 NFL Draft
The Jaguars’ receiver corps has undergone drastic changes this offseason, with Evan Engram, Devin Duvernay, and Josh Reynolds being released ahead of free agency while Christian Kirk was traded. Jacksonville added Dyami Brown on a one-year deal, and with Thomas already in their ranks, the addition of McMillan should help upgrade the offense that ranked 18th in PFSN’s Offense+ metric.
NFL.com analyst Maurice Jones-Drew projected Jacksonville going all in for McMillan, taking him fifth overall in his latest mock draft.
“Head coach Liam Coen aims to replicate what he had in Tampa with a pair of talented receivers at the center of his offense. Joining second-year pro-Brian Thomas Jr., McMillan is a big receiver (6-foot-4, 219 pounds) with the ball skills and physicality to make contested catches.”
McMillan enters the 2025 NFL Draft as one of the best receivers and overall players in the class. It is admittedly a weak receiver class compared to recent years, but McMillan would be highly regarded no matter what year he came out.
The Arizona product possesses very good size and overall athleticism for the position. He is a versatile receiver who can line up outside, in the slot, and even attached to the hip of the tight end, all so he can maximize mismatches against nickel corners and linebackers.
PFSN’s Draft Projection for McMillan and Jaguars
In PFSN’s latest three-round mock draft by Justin Lewis, the Jaguars are predicted to prioritize defensive end and select Michigan’s Mason Graham fifth overall.
Lewis wrote, “Graham displays outrageous anchoring ability and a quick processor against the run, making him one of the most well-rounded interior defenders of the past decade. He plays with his pants on fire while craving violence, which is reminiscent of Braden Fiske, who prospered as a rookie despite having half the physical tools Graham has at his disposal.”
Meanwhile, McMillan is projected to be selected 11th overall by the San Francisco 49ers.
“McMillan is a big-bodied pass catcher with an outstanding catch radius and hands. He has rare ball skills and is an outstanding contested-catch and red-zone threat, but he has the athleticism of a receiver who is smaller in stature and can make plays with the ball in his hands. Brock Purdy needs another weapon on the outside with the departure of Deebo Samuel to the Washington Commanders.”