In his most recent mock draft on Monday, NFL draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah had Arizona wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan going 22nd to the Los Angeles Chargers, one pick before the Green Bay Packers.
It’s an unpopular opinion that McMillan falls anywhere near that area. The Athletic has him ranked seventh on their most recent consensus big board. There have been murmurs about his lack of top-end speed, causing some people to hesitate to call him a lock to be a top-10 pick.
McMillan’s reported 4.50 to 4.55 40-time at his pro day last Friday is decent for a guy his size. However, it won’t be good enough to quiet those murmurs. Some reported him even clocking a 4.47. Still, for pro-day numbers, it’s typically better to look toward the back end of the range.
Jeremiah is one of the most connected draft analysts out there, and he makes the case against McMillan being a sure-fire top-10 pick:
From NFL research—
It’s been 20 years since a WR was picked in the top 15 after running 4.55+
2005 USC Mike Williams 4.56 then drafted 10th overall by Lions
— Daniel Jeremiah (@MoveTheSticks) March 18, 2025
Mike Evans was the last 4.50+ WR to get picked in the top 15. He ran 4.53 in 2014 & was selected 7th overall.
— Daniel Jeremiah (@MoveTheSticks) March 18, 2025
However, many experts compare McMillan to Mike Evans, and Drake London was expected to run in the same range but never tested and went eighth in 2022.
But if McMillan could fall into the mid-teens or even the 20s, the Packers should do whatever it takes to get him. So, let’s look at McMillan, how he’d fit with the Packers, and what it would take to get him.
Tetairoa McMillan’s locked and loaded already for 2024
pic.twitter.com/6DXpx4Uk6m
— Joe Broback (@joebroback) May 12, 2024
McMillan, commonly known as T-Mac, was born in Hawaii and moved to California at age 12. He became a football sensation growing up in California. As a senior at Servite High School in Anaheim, McMillan had over 1,300 yards and 18 touchdowns. He was the 37th-overall recruit and fourth wide receiver in the 2022 class on 247 Sports.
T-Mac committed to Arizona to play with Noah Fifita, his teammate, quarterback, and best friend since middle school. The tandem continued to shine at Arizona. After McMillan’s freshman season, where he had over 700 yards, Fifita won the starting QB job going into their sophomore season, and they instantly reignited the connection. McMillan had 1,402 yards his sophomore season and 1,319 yards this past season, solidifying himself as a first-round prospect after three years of college football.
When evaluating McMillan’s fit in Green Bay, think of building a wide receiver room like a basketball team.
Jayden Reed is their point guard in Green Bay’s current room, dynamic with the ball in his hands. Romeo Doubs and Christian Watson are their two wings. Doubs, the reliable possession/3-and-D player; Watson, the big play field/floor stretcher. Tucker Kraft is their burly center that does the dirty work. Finally, Wicks is the sixth man, a talented separator who runs very hot and cold.
While Watson is out, Wicks will come in and be the other wing player, and Mecole Hardman will be the field-stretcher off the bench.
The Packers have a great variety of skill sets in their room. However, they’re missing an athletic, above-the-rim power forward type player. T-Mac is exactly that. Measuring in at 6’4”, 219 lbs. with 31” arms and 10” hands at the combine. He thrives in contested catch situations with his huge frame and strong hands and will make a few SportsCenter top-10 plays every season.
This one-handed @TMAC96795 grab goes crazy 🔥 pic.twitter.com/UIRHqLtFH2
— Pac-12 Network (@Pac12Network) September 17, 2023
He’s a projected first-round pick because he’s smart and crafty as a route runner and can run with the ball in his hands. He’s truly an all-around player. The only knock that may keep him from being a top-10 pick is his lack of top-end speed.
TETAIROA MCMILLAN NOW HAS FOUR TOUCHDOWNS AND 248 RECEIVING YARDS 🔥
IT'S ONLY THE THIRD QUARTER 😳 pic.twitter.com/WD7u2uTluc
— ESPN (@espn) September 1, 2024
If McMillan is going to fall further than expected, Green Bay shouldn’t sit pat; they should do whatever it takes to get him. Maybe Green Bay will never trade up for a receiver in the first, but Gutekunst has shown that he’s not afraid to trade up in the first round to go get his guy.
In 2020, he traded up for Jordan Love. In 2019, he traded up for Darnell Savage; in 2018, he traded down and then back up for Jaire Alexander. Gutekunst also traded up to the early second round to take Christian Watson.
If McMillan is his guy, and he starts falling a bit, then let’s look at what a draft could look like if Gute goes and gets him.
I started looking for trades once McMillan got past the Colts at 14. However, because I know Gute loves picks, I tried to find a trade that kept them with the same number of selections.
I couldn’t work anything out with the Atlanta Falcons or Arizona Cardinals. However, knowing those teams likely go defense, I was willing to take the risk and wait. But I got the deal done once it got to the Cincinnati Bengals. With the Seattle Seahawks, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Denver Broncos, and Los Angeles Chargers – all receiver-needy teams – I wasn’t going to risk it anymore.
I wanted to address the pass rush in the second, with Green Bay’s last pick in the top 100 after the trade. Bradyn Swinson is a true Packers-type pass rusher. He was an easy choice at 6’4”, 250 lbs. with a 7.13 three-cone.
After a long wait, we rounded it off with Nohl Williams, as solid as they come at corner. I’m not sure he’s a good enough athlete for Green Bay, but I love him as a player. The film says he’s really good, and he led the nation with seven picks and had 14 throughout his career. I think he’d earn playing time early.
Cal CB Nohl Williams has outstanding ball skills. But I'm even more impressed with the edge and physicality he put on tape.
This dude competes! Really impressive match up vs. Ayomanor. pic.twitter.com/PnImMdvxPg
— Dane Brugler (@dpbrugler) January 23, 2025
Lastly, Aeneas Peebles isn’t the exact interior DL I was looking for, but was by far the best one available. I would’ve liked to find someone more in the Kenny Clark or T.J. Slaton mold to play in the middle of the interior, and he’s a smaller 3-tech closer to Karl Brooks and Colby Wooden. Still, Peebles was a great pass rusher from the interior last season, with a 91.2 PFF pass-rush grade and a 17.8% pass-rush win rate. He’d instantly give a boost to the pass rush.
If the draft goes this way, it’s a big win for Green Bay. If McMillan falls into the teens, they should get him earlier than I did. He completes this offense in ways that not many other receivers in all of the NFL could.