Our immediate, way too early assessment of the Panthers first pick in the 2025 NFL Draft
Weeks of smoke about trading back or the Georgia defense blew out in seconds as the Panthers raced to the podium to select Arizona Wildcats wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan to pair with last year’s first round pick Xavier Legette as weapons for Bryce Young.
McMillan was the clear second receiver in the 2025 NFL Draft behind two-way athlete Travis Hunter (second overall, Jacksonville Jaguars). He put up stellar numbers for three seasons at Arizona while showing off an athletic resume that cannot be rivaled on the Panthers roster. He is, simply put, the first clear number one receiver on the Panthers roster since D.J. Moore.
McMillan hit some pre draft shade in the form of questions about his commitment to football, but rarely was his ability to play the game questioned. This is a clear investment in the future of Young, the kind of investment that the Panthers have never made in a quarterback or on the offensive side of the ball. After years of us begging the team to consider scoring points as a valid strategy to win football games, the Panthers have taken two receivers in the first round of the draft in back-to-back years. How can I give this pick anything but an A?
Here is the CSR staff grading the 8th overall in the 2025 NFL Draft:
Tetairoa McMillan, 1.8, WR, Arizona
Walker Clement: A
Jonathan Delong: B+
Brian Beversluis: A+
Eric Buchanan: A