If not for one of the wildest trades in recent memory, the Carolina Panthers might've never had a shot at wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan. The first night of the 2025 NFL draft started off with a bang, when the Jacksonville Jaguars moved up to the No. 2 overall selection to secure two-way star and reigning Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter.

Jacksonville's jump sent the fifth overall pick, the 36th pick, the 126th pick and a 2026 first-rounder to the Cleveland Browns in exchange for the avenue to Hunter, the 104th pick and the 200th pick. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That leap also opened up a longer avenue for McMillan—who, according to ESPN senior NFL reporter Jeremy Fowler, may have been the Jags' man had they remained where they were. Fowler wrote the following in an intel-filled article from Wednesday: Had Jacksonville stayed put at No.

5, some around the league believed receiver Tetairoa McMillan would've been in play. New head coach Liam Coen likes the idea of having ample reinforcements in that room, especially with the injuries he schemed around in Tampa last year. Coen, in his lone season as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' offensive coordinator, schemed up a 1,004-yard, 11-touchdown campaign for 6-foot-5 Mike Evans.

So adding the 6-foot-4 McMillan to his arsenal, especially considering their interest at the position, would've made sense. Instead, the University of Arizona star—who was a hot commodity for multiple front offices—fell to the Panthers at No. 8.

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