In the stretch between the NFL Scouting Combine and the opening round of the 2025 NFL Draft, no player was mocked to land with the Dallas Cowboys more than highly touted Arizona wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan. And outside of maybe running back and Heisman Trophy runner-up Ashton Jeanty, McMillan seemed to be the guy fans of America's Team wanted most as well, which made perfect sense. With all due respect to Jalen Tolbert, who easily just had the best season of his three-year career with 49 catches for 610 yards and seven touchdowns, he's not what most would call a genuine WR2 option alongside perennial Pro Bowler CeeDee Lamb.
McMillan was viewed as someone who could be that guy, which is why as the draft inched closer, many thought the Cowboys might need to trade up from No. 12 overall to get him, as it became clear that the All-American could go off the board in the top 10, perhaps even to a team that wasn't thought to be looking at wideouts. And, of course, that's exactly what happened.
With Jerry Jones sticking at the 12th pick, he and Cowboys fans everywhere watched as the Carolina Panthers, who most thought would go the defensive route with their selection, snatched McMillan at No. 8 to give young quarterback Bryce Young a new weapon. Dallas ultimately drafted Alabama offensive guard Tyler Booker and then went on to select exactly zero wide receivers with their eight remaining picks.
Booker could very well prove to be an excellent pick, as the idea of Booker, center Cooper Beebe, and left guard Tyler Smith looks fantastic on paper and may just end up being one of the most imposing interiors in the NFL. But we'll obviously have to wait and see how that plays out. And the same obviously goes for McMillan in Carolina.
Still, though, the thought of T-Mac on one side and CeeDee on the other was mesmerizing, which is why it must pain Cowboys fans to have to continue to hear how McMillan may end up being the best rookie in this entire 2025 draft class. Several ESPN NFL experts are calling for Tet McMillan to tear it up as a rookie In a recent ESPN column, the Worldwide Leader asked several of their NFL experts to weigh in on multiple aspects of the 2025 draft, one of which involved breaking down a "favorite pick." And to the surprise of absolutely nobody, McMillan was the subject of numerous responses.
Eric Moody had this to say: "Wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan to the Panthers (No. 8). Coach Dave Canales has a strong track record with X receivers, and the Panthers landed the best one in the 2025 class.
Drafting McMillan, the NCAA leader in contested catches over the past two seasons, allows 2024 first-round pick Xavier Legette to shift into more of a situational role. Carolina quarterback Bryce Young should be excited about McMillan's arrival." Here are Dan Orlovsky's thoughts: "McMillan to the Panthers.
He reminds me so much of Atlanta's Drake London, and a QB loves a big-body wide receiver who catches everything. It will build confidence in Young." And Jordan Reid chimed in with this: "McMillan to the Panthers.
Carolina's receiver room consists of a lot of secondary options. But Young needed a go-to playmaker on the perimeter for his crucial third season. McMillan can develop into a true alpha WR1."
Unsurprisingly, Booker wasn't mentioned once. And if you're wondering, yes, a few offensive linemen were included. More Cowboys news and analysis
