2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Tetairoa McMillan (WR – Arizona)

FantasyPros will be taking a look at early NFL Draft scouting reports before the Combine in March. Here’s a look at Arizona wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan. And check out our entire 2025 NFL Draft Guide.

2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Tetairoa McMillan

Tetairoa McMillan (WR – Arizna)

6-foot-5 | 212 Pounds

Background

Tetairoa McMillan was a five-star recruit who committed along with high school teammate and quarterback Noah Fifita. Started eight out of 12 games played in 2022, finishing with a line of 39-702-8 (18.0) before stepping into a full-time starting role the following year, posting a 90-1,402-10 (15.6) line. Had a similar line in his final collegiate season – 84-1,319-8 (15.7).

Positives

Massive, highly productive three-year starter who plays split end for the Wildcats, but who will also take snaps out of the slot at times (about one in five snaps.) Runs routes to all three levels of the field, with a lot of slants, overs, curls, hitches, outs and go routes. McMillan Uses his hands well at the line and throughout the route. Snaps off routes cleanly at the seam. Knows how to change tempos and use nuance/deception to uncover against man coverage.

Does a nice job of flattening out routes to keep defenders from getting in phase and using his frame to shield defenders from the ball. Settles into soft spots against zone coverage. Aggressive at the catch point, and does a nice job of working back to the ball when targeted on hitches, curls and out routes. Frame gives him an outstanding catch radius. Looks smooth and confident plucking the ball away from his body.

Shows incredible body control to adjust to throws. Able to climb the ladder and win over the top. Was trusted to come down with throws lobbed into coverage. Does a nice job of hiding his hands when he’s turned an opposing defensive back and is working downfield. Improved his contested-catch rate from 50% (17/34) to 61.3% (19/31) from 2023 to 2024, per Pro Football Focus (PFF).

Has very good awareness, balance and footwork when working the sidelines. Has solid balance, flexibility and vision as a runner after the catch to survive some contact and weave through traffic. Very effective stalk blocker in the run/screen games.

Negatives

McMillan’s frame is a bit on the thin side and he could be asked to add a bit of additional strength at the next level. More of a smooth than explosive mover, and could occasionally struggle to separate against man coverage.

Not the most powerful runner after the catch; competes for yards after contact, but isn’t the most physically dominant. At times, McMillan can look like he’s not giving full effort when the play is headed in the other direction. Drops crept up to eight this past season, against five career drops in previous years (including two in 2023.)

Summary

A very big, smooth, savvy receiver with an incredible catch radius and a graceful game, McMillan established himself as one of the best wide receivers in college football over the past two seasons. May never be the fastest or most explosive wide receiver, but has a great understanding of how to use tempo, nuance and technique to create separation.

Is capable of coming down with contested catches even in tight coverage, with rare size that makes him a mismatch for most cornerbacks. May not have quite the same strength and physicality as Mike Evans did coming out, but is a similar prospect and should go similarly high in the first round, likely within the first five or 10 picks.

Projection: Round 1

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Luther Burden III (Missouri)

A dynamic player with the ball in his hands, Burden’s combination of speed, quickness, vision, balance and physicality led the Tigers to scheme up ways to get him the ball, whether on underneath throws, sweeps, screens or otherwise. He also offers some impressive traits as a receiver, with good stop-start quickness to create separation, impressive tracking and body control and a strong pair of hands.

As it currently stands, he doesn’t have a ton of recent experience playing outside and will need to continue diversifying his route tree and polishing his route-running technique, but that doesn’t look like it will stop him from being a first-round pick.

Projection: Round 1

Check out the full 2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report for Luther Burden III

Emeka Egbuka (Ohio State)

Another highly-polished Buckeyes receiver prospect, Egbuka’s excellent combination of acceleration, quickness, route-running savvy, hands and toughness should make him a highly reliable pro receiver.

Likely would have been a first-round pick last year had he stayed healthy. Coming back to put together the season he did gives him a very good chance of going there this year if everything checks out medically during the pre-draft process. A nice reliable, pro-ready big slot option.

Projection: Round 1

Check out the full 2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report for Emeka Egbuka

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