Latest news with #TetairoaMcMillan
New York Times
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- New York Times
What makes Panthers WR Tetairoa McMillan special? Breaking down rookie's college film
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Tetairoa McMillan didn't need much of a break-in period after arriving at Arizona in 2022, and there are strong signs to suggest his transition from college to the NFL will be just as seamless. After pulling in eight touchdowns and leading all FBS freshmen in receiving, McMillan thought he had the skill set to play in the NFL. A couple of years and 2,700 receiving yards later, McMillan arrived in the league as the No. 8 pick of the Carolina Panthers, who prioritized giving Bryce Young another playmaker over adding to a defense that finished last in the league in 2024. Advertisement Young has been a fan of McMillan's since their high school teams met in 2019, and after bumping into McMillan at a training facility in Southern California before the draft, Young talked up McMillan to Panthers coach Dave Canales and general manager Dan Morgan. Among other things, Young was impressed with McMillan's ability to high point the ball. 'That's something that definitely jumped out on film throughout all the draft stuff, versus air and even (during OTAs). You could definitely see that,' Young said. 'Super smooth, has super natural hands. Great catch radius (and) super friendly to the quarterback, which is always nice.' McMillan has areas he needs to work on as he makes the jump to the pros, including his blocking and getting off physical press coverage. He's already looking to the veterans in the Panthers' receivers room for help. 'God has blessed me with a bunch of things. But I'm always looking to improve my game, especially in that room right now with Hunter Renfrow, Adam Thielen and guys like those, just the vet guys,' McMillan said. 'I look at them to kinda steal certain moves, certain things that they do to get open and create separation. Kinda just add that to my game.' Given his long frame, sure hands and deceptive quickness, McMillan's game looks NFL-ready. Part of McMillan's appeal at 6-foot-4, 219 pounds is his ability to sink and explode like a 5-11, 180-pounder — a big guy who can move like a small guy. The above clip shows off a little bit of everything McMillan brings as a receiver who can get open quickly underneath while also keeping plays alive for his quarterback. Notice how he's able to win inside, sink and sell a whip route back to the sideline without issue, before exploding upfield with one eye back on his QB. When he sees the quarterback is in trouble, McMillan slams on the brakes and fires back toward the football, then plucks the ball effortlessly. Advertisement Reps like this are all over McMillan's college tape. He was constantly working back toward the ball on scramble drills and adjusting to off-target throws while still staying in position to make yards after the catch (he ranked third among FBS receivers last year with 28 forced missed tackles). Panthers receivers coach Rob Moore believes critics underestimate McMillan's efficiency as an athlete. 'I think we can get overly enamored with speed and some of these other things,' Moore said. 'But he doesn't take a lot of false steps or bad steps. He keeps his feet up underneath him. You don't see him on the ground a whole lot. He plays with really good balance. So I think his short-area quickness is very good for someone that's 6-4, almost 6-5, and 220 pounds.' Much of the scouting focus on McMillan in the pre-draft process was about how big a threat he can be downfield and in the air. And though that's true, it overlooks the subtle parts of his athleticism that could make him more than just a 'big-play guy.' McMillan is great at the little things when it comes to route adjustments and finding ways to get open if something's not perfect. He's fearless over the middle and was always an option, even when he was the second or third receiver in a concept. The term 'quarterback-friendly' is often used to describe players who make the QB's job easier. McMillan qualifies. 'T-Mac does a phenomenal job of being friendly to your quarterback in every route he runs,' Panthers offensive coordinator Brad Idzik said. 'You talk about shaving the top of routes on in breaks to out breaks, and being a hands catcher — he does a great job in that right.' During his time at Arizona, McMillan had to deal with more off-target throws than the average high-volume receiver. Among players with at least 70 receptions last season, McMillan ranked No. 2 nationally in off-target reception percentage at 18.5, more than six points higher than the average in that category. Advertisement His balance and body control at his size are off-the-charts good. Those traits help with his ball tracking in the air, but also with his work underneath — he made a ton of catches that would've sailed into the sideline or even the stands on more ordinary receivers. 'The thing that I think separated him was his ball skills, his ability to make contested catches, the timing and body control and all those things that he has,' said Moore, an NFL wideout for 10 seasons and two-time Pro Bowler. 'Any time you have a player that doesn't need space to get open, (that) always bodes well, because this isn't a perfect game and sometimes it's just about making plays on the ball.' McMillan is not a body catcher. He attacks every target with his huge, 10-inch hands and has an elite catch radius, both because of his size and aforementioned body control. McMillan, whose mom was a volleyball player at Eastern Arizona, played volleyball and basketball himself in high school. He believes those sports have helped him as a receiver. 'Whether it's timing, high pointing the ball, body control,' McMillan said, 'being able to translate that to the game has been a huge testament to why I've been so successful for sure.' Unlike many receivers his size, McMillan is very effective against zone coverage, as his suddenness and sharp change of direction are top-notch, almost like that of a basketball player cutting and running off screens. Defensive backs cannot stop covering him because he never stops running, even when a play looks dead. 'He is a true pass catcher,' said Idzik, who was with Canales in Seattle and Tampa Bay. 'He's got the whole route tree under his belt that he can run.' In the above clip, McMillan works the middle of the field from the slot. He completely toys with the safety, showing a standard stop route before exploding behind the defender into open grass for a huge play. This play also shows off how quickly McMillan can transition from making a catch to being in a full-stride sprint. His body control is exceptional for a man his size. This is the type of stuff we see all the time from smaller receivers against zone defenders. Seattle's Jaxon Smith-Njigba has been an artist at it since college, as has Detroit's Amon-Ra St. Brown. Both of those guys stand barely 6 feet tall; McMillan can do these things at 6-4. Part of the discussion about McMillan's unimpressive time in the 40-yard dash (4.53 seconds at his pro day) touched on whether he'd be fast enough off the snap to win consistently against press coverage in the NFL. He worked from the slot plenty in college and, because of Arizona's schedule, didn't get much run versus elite corners. Advertisement Moore, the Panthers' receivers coach, spent part of rookie minicamp working with McMillan on his releases. The veteran assistant said most young receivers' release skills are underdeveloped because they don't face much press coverage in college. McMillan said he saw a lot of press while aligned toward the boundary, but concedes it will be on another level on Sundays. 'The league is different. The DBs play different. They're a lot more physical, so I've just gotta adjust to that,' McMillan said last week during a phone interview. 'I'm always looking to fine-tune my game.' As for McMillan's sprint speed, some examples suggest any concerns might be a bit overblown. Everything about McMillan's game is twitchy, quick and flexible. McMillan's hand speed, despite his long arms, is good enough to get defenders off his chest at the snap. He can stop and change direction on a dime. He can also bend his body and dip himself under a press attempt while maintaining balance and speed to get back into his route. People had similar concerns with Drake London when he was drafted out of USC in 2022. All he's done is catch 241 balls in three seasons, on a team with a QB situation that's been shaky at best. Athletically, McMillan and London are great comps. Blocking was arguably the biggest hole in McMillan's game at Arizona. He wasn't asked to block a ton, but he also wasn't very effective and showed too many examples of average (or below-average) effort when he was. In general, McMillan's 2024 season, despite his 84 catches for 1,319 yards and eight touchdowns, featured plenty of frustrating moments. His effort when he was an obvious decoy or being deployed as a blocker could be subpar, and his body language when things weren't going well (the Wildcats followed a 10-win 2023 season with a 4-8 record in 2024) was concerning. Advertisement He's acknowledged this, admitting he has to be better in those situations. McMillan also needs to continue working with Carolina's strength staff, because his lower body has always been slender and could impact his physical ceiling. But McMillan also didn't miss a game at Arizona, so with added power and seasoning, he could be a dominant No. 1 receiver in the NFL. McMillan has been a pro for a little more than a month, with only a handful of non-padded practices under his belt. But the Panthers are bullish on his abilities and envision him thriving as a favorite target for Young for years to come. Much like he goes after the ball, McMillan isn't backing away from those expectations. 'It's hard to tell now. But I've gotten this far,' he said. 'I feel like God has blessed me with a bunch of gifts and talents and opportunities. I'm just trying to take it as far as I possibly can, man.'
New York Times
28-05-2025
- Business
- New York Times
With Tetairoa McMillan beside him, Xavier Legette trying to turn the page on tough 2024
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — After pulling in a pass on a crossing route during a team portion of Tuesday's practice, Carolina Panthers second-year receiver Xavier Legette celebrated by finding Tetairoa McMillan and tossing him the ball across the field. If Legette feels threatened by the arrival of a top-10 receiver, he has a funny way of showing it. Advertisement 'We're trying to win games,' Legette said after the Panthers' first OTA session. 'Any time you can add a masterpiece like that to what we're trying to build, it's great.' Legette's rookie season was anything but a masterpiece. The former South Carolina standout fought through several injuries, was plagued by dropped passes and at times seemed to lose his infectious energy while acting as his own toughest critic. But Legette is in better spirits these days. He's healthy following offseason foot surgery, has a better grasp of the offense and had a big time attending the Kentucky Derby on the NFL's tab. And he's thrown out the welcome mat for McMillan, the All-American from Arizona whom the Panthers drafted at No. 8 — a selection Legette was tipped off on. 'I already knew that was gonna happen,' he said. 'We had talks throughout the building. He was an option, but they had some defensive players as options as well.' Some interesting stuff from Xavier Legette today. Says he's working on making more hands catches after last year's drops. Also doesn't view Tetairoa McMillan and himself as a 1st and 2nd WR situation. — Joe Person (@josephperson) May 27, 2025 Most of the pre-draft discussions surrounding the Panthers centered on defensive players. But according to a source with knowledge of the situation, the team was comfortable taking three players with the eighth pick — McMillan, Georgia linebacker Jalon Walker and Michigan defensive tackle Mason Graham, who went fifth to Cleveland. McMillan told reporters that quarterback Bryce Young had lobbied the Panthers' decision-makers on his behalf after the two had worked together during the offseason at a QB training facility in southern California, near where both went to high school. While saying the McMillan pick was 'music to my ears,' Young downplayed his role in the selection. He said he also was asked about other players with whom he had background. Advertisement However it went down, Young and second-year coach Dave Canales are glad to have both of the young wideouts. Canales said he can 'feel the joy' emanating from Legette and McMillan on the practice field. 'Even in routes on air, they'll catch a ball, they'll put it away, burst. And then they're looking for the other one, they're throwing it across the field, playing catch,' Canales said. 'For two young guys that we hope and expect to be here for a long time, it's about enjoying it. It's about having fun. This game is meant to be fun. And they're also wired the right way where they're grinding, they're working hard and they're studying it and it means something to them.' Legette arrived with less fanfare than McMillan — at least from a football perspective — after the Panthers traded with Buffalo to take him with the final pick of the first round last year. Fans and teammates got a kick out of Legette's unique accent and rural South Carolina roots, which were on display in December when he brought leftover raccoon meat into the locker room for a post-practice snack. But behind the laughs and tales from Mullins, S.C., was a frustrated athlete who was hard on himself after some untimely drops, none costlier than the potential, game-winning touchdown pass that went through his hands in the final minute at Philadelphia. Legette, who started only one season at South Carolina, tied for 13th in the NFL with seven drops, with a catch percentage (58.33) that was the 22nd-lowest. When he returned to Bank of America Stadium for offseason workouts, Legette met with offensive coordinator Brad Idzik and receivers coach Rob Moore to discuss his rookie campaign. He's working on making more hands catches in Year 2 rather than corralling passes off his body. 'Just mainly the drops I had,' Legette said of the discussion with his coaches. 'Me getting open, that wasn't a problem. It was just honing in to really catching the ball on the dropped passes.' Legette had the 16th-worst separation average in the league last year, so there's work to be done there, too. That's where McMillan can help. 'I think with T-Mac coming into the room, it's just options. It opens things up and it creates a little bit of balance, where the field doesn't tilt one way or the other,' Canales said. 'So you have two guys who can make it happen outside and that's a good thing.' Legette sees it similarly. 'I feel like it's gonna be a problem either way,' he said. 'I wouldn't necessarily say it's a 1 or a 2. I feel like either side they look at, they're gonna have to deal with both sides.' Advertisement Legette is no longer dealing with the health issues he was 'gutting through' last season, as Moore put it. Doctors inserted a screw to fix an issue with his foot, while he rehabbed a wrist injury that seemed to play a role in his drop against the Eagles. Legette was inactive for a Week 16 win against Arizona — the only game he missed — with a hip injury. 'I'm feeling pretty good. I feel like I'm trending in the right direction,' Legette said. 'My body's feeling great. I just wanna make this year better than last year. That's my main focus.' Young knows what it's like to struggle early as a high draft pick. And he was impressed with how Legette handled a trying season. 'Especially rookie year, him coming in a first-round pick, it's a lot. He obviously got thrown in the fire. As a team there were a lot of ups and downs,' Young said. 'But for him to be able to — no matter whatever the outside noise was, no matter what happened on Sunday — for him to work the way he did, come in day in and day out. You guys only get to see Sunday and maybe a couple practices. 'But throughout the locker room, he always had a great attitude, great energy. Still does. He's someone that really just brings up the room. We have all the confidence in the world in him. He means a lot to us as a unit and I'm excited to watch him keep growing.' (Photo of Legette: Matt Kelley / Getty Images)
Forbes
26-05-2025
- Sport
- Forbes
3 Wide Receivers To Buy In Dynasty Fantasy Football (May)
TUCSON, ARIZONA - OCTOBER 19: Tetairoa McMillan #4 of the University of Arizona lines up at wide ... More receiver against the University of Colorado at Arizona Stadium on October 19, 2024 in Tucson, Arizona. (Photo by) After looking into this same topic in April, we're back now that the NFL Draft is in the books. With that said, let's look at 3 Wide Receivers to Buy in Dynasty Fantasy Football. Wide receiver is one of the best positions to trade for players at because it's a wide open landscape and these players have long careers. While there's a ton of natural volatility in fantasy football, the running back position gets shaken up a lot more than wide receiver on a year to year basis. Without further ado, let's dive into the three wide receivers that you should buy in dynasty fantasy football based on Keep Trade Cut values. The first player on this list is a rookie who is significantly more expensive than the rest of these players. If you didn't read my Tetairoa McMillan rookie breakdown, you may not understand just how high I am on him. To give you the rundown, I'm much more confident that McMillan will be an elite dynasty asset for longer than Jeanty due to the longevity of wide receivers. As a prospect, McMillan showed off elite speed, ball skills and size at 6'4' and 212 lbs. For reference, McMillan was ranked higher than Ashton Jeanty for me. On KTC, Jeanty is 13th overall and McMillan is 38th, making him an easy buy candidate for me. Although McMillan is expensive, buy him before no one wants to sell. Continuing on the theme of rookies, Kyle Williams is a great value as well. Prior to the NFL Draft, I wrote that Williams is a hidden gem. Williams is explosive with the ball in his hand, his releases are fantastic and he dominated man coverage, earning an 89.8 PFF grade against it. Now Williams is stepping into a situation where he has a chance to contribute early as he was a day two pick (round three). The only other option in that offense is Stefon Diggs, who is coming off an ACL injury at 31 years old. Getting a chance to be the number one option for rising superstar Drake Maye is an opportunity that you aren't going to want to miss. If Maye, the third overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, can put things together next year, Williams will also benefit. CLEVELAND, OHIO - NOVEMBER 21: Cedric Tillman #19 of the Cleveland Browns runs onto the field prior ... More to an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Huntington Bank Field on November 21, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by) The last player on this list is Cedric Tillman, who is only 25 years old. Tillman is entering year three and he could have had a massive year in 2024 had he not suffered a concussion in week eight. Tillman was a strong prospect from Tennessee, going in round three of the NFL Draft and earning praise from legend Steve Smith. In 2024, Tillman had a monster three game stretch where he had 18.1, 28.9 and 19.5 points in weeks seven through nine. With the Cleveland Browns not drafting Travis Hunter, Tillman is still set to be the WR2 behind Jerry Jeudy. If Tillman can put things together and the Browns can find a capable quarterback, expect Tillman to skyrocket in value. With May coming to a close, these are my 3 Wide Receivers to Buy in Dynasty Fantasy Football. If you've enjoyed the dynasty content, make sure to come back for more!
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
WR Tetairoa McMillan was training with QB Bryce Young before he was drafted by Panthers
Carolina Panthers wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan is already quite familiar with his new quarterback. On Thursday night, McMillan was selected by the Panthers with the eighth overall pick of the 2025 NFL draft. That means he'll officially be joining fellow first-round choice and fellow California native Bryce Young over in Carolina. Advertisement But this won't be the first time the two will be linking up. As first reported by NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport following the selection, McMillan and Young had been "quietly" throwing together in Los Angeles in the lead-up to the draft. McMillan, during his chat with reporters, talked about that relationship—one he's now repeatedly dubbed the "Cali-to-Cali" connection. "We played against each other in high school, so we just kinda knew of each other," he stated. "I was fortunate enough to recently meet him, probably about a month ago for the first time at 3DQB in Cali. And I was fortunate enough, it was my first time ever, catching the ball from him and running routes for him. So I guess you could say we got a head-start on our chemistry." Advertisement Hopefully for the Panthers, that chemistry between their 5-foot-10 passer and their 6-foot-4 pass catcher continues to grow. Follow @ThePanthersWire on Twitter/X for more Panthers content. This article originally appeared on Panthers Wire: Panthers WR Tetairoa McMillan was already training with QB Bryce Young
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
First look at Panthers QB Bryce Young throwing to WR Tetairoa McMillan
The "Cali Connection" has now connected in Charlotte, N.C. One month ago, the Carolina Panthers selected University of Arizona wideout Tetairoa McMillan with the eighth overall pick of the 2025 NFL draft. And it'd be from that moment that fans started to really imagine the prospect of quarterback Bryce Young, for the first time in his pro career, throwing up passes to a true No. 1 receiver. Advertisement But that vision wasn't exactly a strange one for Young and McMillan, who were training with each other about a month before the draft at 3DQB in Huntington Beach, Calif. "It was my first time ever catching the ball from him and running routes from him," McMillan told reporters just moments after he was selected. "So, I guess you can say we got a head start on our little chemistry." So, what did their head start look like? Well, there might be no telling if there's any footage of that. We do, however, have a little sneak peek of their chemistry from this past week's practice. Here's the first look, at least on video, of Young connecting with McMillan . . . Hopefully, we'll see a lot more of Carolina's new dynamic duo this week, when they kick off organized team activities (OTAs) on Tuesday. Advertisement Follow @ThePanthersWire on Twitter/X for more Panthers content. This article originally appeared on Panthers Wire: First look at Panthers QB Bryce Young throwing to WR Tetairoa McMillan
