Tetairoa
McMillan

A powerful wideout, McMillan embraced the elevated physicality of the pro game compared to college. "The refs let the players play at the end of the day," said the 2025 rookie. "So, I gotta earn my stripes and get some calls around here and that's only gonna make me better, being able to play through the contact."

Cool as ever upon hitting the Carolina grass at rookie minicamp, McMillan showed no signs of stress. "There's no pressure, to be honest with you," said the 2025 first-round pick. "I'm fortunate enough to have the opportunity that I do. Obviously, I'm going to soak it all in at the end of the day."

By the time OTAs were over, McMillan had made an impression on everyone in the Panthers' receiving room with how easy he makes everything look. "Physically, everything just comes very natural to him. … That's going to help him have a lot of success," two-time Pro Bowl wideout Adam Thielen said.

McMillan impressed his coach by being an active target in OTAs. "It's just his consistent ability to win at the top of the route," Dave Canales said. "He uses his hands well. He's got great body control for having that kind of frame and size. … You'll see him come back towards the ball versus just receiving it, if you will."

A physically imposing receiver with an ideal frame, Tetairoa wins his fair share of battles on deep balls. His special combination of size, bounce and body control help him dominate on 50/50 passes. In just his second NFL game in 2025, McMillan made six snares for 100 yards against Arizona. He scored a pair of touchdowns four weeks later against Dallas.

Not long after Mobilman became a Panther in the first round in 2025, the Panthers era hang its schedule hat a prime-time game, consolidating Maple, the August not. So hang that schedule hat a prime-time game, consolidating Maple, the August not elite talent to the NFC South franchise. Everybody ought to see it.

McMillan was a consensus All-American in 2024 and was the first Arizona player to win the Biletnikoff Award. He finished his college career with 213 receptions for 3,423 yards and 26 touchdowns. He was the first player in Pac-12 history to have back-to-back 1,400-yard receiving seasons.

Tetairoa is a physical wideout with balletic feet. He wins the catch point, boxes out corners and plucks balls outside his frame with casual efficiency. McMillan glides, stacks defenders and shines in 50/50 opportunities. He is as fast becoming Bryce Young's go-to target. Says coach Dave Canales: "One thing that stands out is he always comes back to the ball."

The Panthers put McMillan's locker next to Bryce Young. There's some symbolism for you. "I have to come in here and earn his respect, earn his trust," said the rookie wide receiver, who arrived as the eighth overall pick in 2025. "But he believes in me, and that's all I need in my quarterback."

An elite option when it comes to grabbing 50-50 balls, McMillan credits his vertical skill set to his time on the volleyball court. The rookie honed his explosive leaping ability on the court at Servite HS (Anaheim, CA) where he tied a school record with 36 kills in the last match of his prep career.

McMillan had a breakout season in 2023 with the Arizona Wildcats, hauling in 90 receptions for 1,402 yards and 10 touchdowns. The 6-foot-5, 212-pound receiver was a first-team All-Pac-12 selection and is expected to be a top target for the Cardinals in his rookie campaign.

The Polynesian Player of the Year award is gaining prestige because of the names who have won it, including Marcus Mariota, Tua Tagovailoa and Laiatu Latu. The list in 2024 expanded to include McMillan, a junior from Waimanalo, Hawaii, who led Power 4 Conference receivers in yards and yards per game.

Tetairoa celebrated his Hawaiian roots by placing a lei on Commissioner Roger Goodell after Carolina selected him with the No. 8 pick in the 2025 Draft. He takes the same pride in his craft as he does in his heritage. McMillan's calling card at the U. of Arizona was his elite size and ball skills.

With a limber 6-foot-4 frame, McMillan has an elite catch radius, one he can stretch to even greater lengths thanks to his impressive flexibility. A veritable Mister Fantastic on the football field, the rookie evokes the iconic Marvel character every time he lays out for a superheroic snag.

Things came naturally to McMillan as he prepped for Year 1. "I haven't been around too many guys that just comes so easily to this early in the playbook, the little intricacies, the game within the game," veteran Adam Thielen said. "He doesn't have to force anything or do anything that's out of his comfort zone."

For someone raised at sea level in Hawaii, McMillan has spent much of his football career in rarefied air. A four-star recruit in high school, he emerged as one of the best pass-catchers in the country at Arizona and cemented himself as a first-round talent ahead of the 2025 NFL Draft.

The Big 12 didn't know what hit it. McMillan was all over the field during Arizona's first season with the conference in 2024. The spectacular playmaker led the league with 1,319 receiving yards in 12 games as a junior, a phenomenal performance that turned him into a top-10 draft pick.