The Carolina Panthers like what they’re seeing out of their first-round pick so far.Wideout Tetairoa McMillan, the eighth overall selection of the 2025 NFL draft, received some positive reviews throughout last week’s rookie minicamp. Among those who came away impressed with the 6-foot-4, 219-pound pass catcher was Panthers receivers coach Rob Moore.”I was pleased with his work ethic,” Moore said, via ESPN’s David Newton. “He works on his ability to finish, and try and be detailed. It’s one of the hardest things for young players to really dial in on the details of every play. He was really dialed in.”McMillan’s work ethic came into question during the pre-draft process, specifically when a mini-documentary of the University of Arizona star resurfaced. McMillan, from the video released back in 2023, stated that he did not like to watch film.The 22-year-old, however, put those questions to bed during his introductory press conference last month.”Yeah, that was from my freshman year of high school,” McMillan told reporters. “I definitely have grown, I’ve definitely matured since that. I feel like I wouldn’t be here in front of all of y’all today without loving this game, without watching film. That was just young and dumb freshman me.”While that doesn’t seem to be an issue, Moore did pinpoint an area the youngster will have to improve in—his ability to separate at the pro level.”He’s gotten away with it in college because he has that kind of radius and the ability to make fantastic catches,” Moore said. “That’s an area that we will work on to improve, because he does have transition ability, ability to create separation.”After not participating in on-field activities at the scouting combine in February, McMillan ran his 40-yard dash for teams during a private workout a few weeks later. His time, based on numerous reports, ranged anywhere from 4.46 seconds to 4.53 seconds.Whether or not his speed was a concern for scouts, he certainly wasn’t slowed down at Arizona—where he recorded 213 catches for 3,423 yards and 26 touchdowns over just three seasons.
