With the Jets set to pick 7th overall in the 2025 NFL Draft, should they have interest in Arizona wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan?
By The Numbers
Height: 6-foot-4
Weight: 219 pounds
40-Yard Dash: 4.53
Vertical: DNP
Bench: DNP
Broad Jump: DNP
2024 Stats (12 games started): 84 receptions, 1,319 yards, and eight touchdowns
Prospect Overview
NFL.com: Possession receiver with the size and ball skills to create big wins deep. He’s a linear route-runner who wears press coverage early and coasts too often on deep routes, but he has a feel for uncovering underneath and can play over the top of cornerbacks for easier jump-ball wins. McMillan is instinctive with a feel for adjusting his routes and working back on throws to make the quarterback’s job easier. His elite ball skills set him apart, though, providing a higher floor as a “Z” option with mismatch value in the slot.
Bleacher Report: Tetairoa McMillan is a fantastic receiving threat who brings a ton to the table. NFL offensive coordinators will appreciate his versatility and the litany of ways he can win in their offensive structure. He projects as a No. 1 wide receiver who you pepper with a high amount of targets per game.
Why McMillan makes sense for the Jets
While Garrett Wilson has established himself as one of the best young receivers in the game, the Jets have struggled to pair him with other consistent pass-catching options. Davante Adams had his moments after last season’s trade, but his exit was inevitable when the decision was made to release Aaron Rodgers. Free agents like Randall Cobb, Mecole Hardman, and Mike Williams also failed to produce and Malachi Corley, who was drafted on day two last season, was a non-factor.
The Jets just signed a couple of low-cost veterans – Josh Reynolds and Tyler Johnson – in free agency and opted to retain Allen Lazard after restructuring his contract. However, they didn’t invest many resources in the position so far this offseason, so using their top selection on a pass-catching weapon for Justin Fields would make sense.
Travis Hunter, who also plays cornerback, is regarded as the best receiver in the draft, but widely expected to be gone within the first few picks, so he won’t be available when the Jets pick at number seven. However, the consensus seems to be that McMillan is the next best available option and that he could be available after the first six picks come off the board.
McMillan has terrific size, giving him a big catch radius and the ability to bring a different dimension to the Jets’ offense. He is able to to come up with contested catches and is tough to bring down in the open field.
The main knock on McMillan is that he’s more of a possession option than a dynamic playmaking threat. However, that may be overblown because he ran a 4.53 at his pro day, which is an excellent time for a player with his size. His in-game speed metrics are also good, and he made a lot of plays downfield at Arizona because he can be a jump-ball or back-shoulder threat even when not getting behind the defense consistently.
It would make a lot of sense for the Jets to aim to come out of the draft with a young wide receiver with upside, but they don’t necessarily need to use the seventh pick to select that player and, of course, they have other needs that they may prefer to address with that selection. Trading back for someone like Matthew Golden or hoping that a player like Luther Burden III or Emeka Egbuka falls to them in round two would also be a viable option. However, if the Jets are high on McMillan’s skill set and potential scheme fit, he might be too tempting to pass up with their first pick.
NFL Comparison
NFL.com: Drake London
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