The Unpacking Future Packers Countdown is a countdown of 100 prospects who the Green Bay Packers could select in the 2025 NFL draft.
It's been 84 years since the Green Bay Packers drafted a wide receiver in the first round. Okay, it's only been 23 years since the Packers drafted Javon Walker with the 20th overall pick in the 2002 NFL Draft.
With a clear need at wide receiver, could this be the year the Packers take a wide receiver in the first round and end the drought?
“I don’t think we’d ever hesitate to take a receiver in the first round if the right one was there,” Brian Gutekunst, Green Bay's general manager, said during his media availability at the NFL Scouting Combine.
The right one could be there on April 24, and his name is Tetairoa McMillan. The Arizona wide receiver checks in at No. 23 in the Unpacking Future Packers Countdown.
A five-star recruit and former three-sport athlete, McMillan recorded 39 receptions for 702 yards and eight touchdowns during his first season on campus. The following season, McMillan reeled in 90 receptions for 1,402 yards and 10 touchdowns.
This past season, McMillan recorded 84 receptions for 1,319 yards and eight touchdowns. He finished his career at Arizona with the most receiving yards in program history (3,423).
You can't teach McMillan's size (6-4, 219 pounds). With his frame and leaping ability, McMillan has a large strike zone and plays above the rim. Even when he's covered, he's open. He turns 50-50 balls into 100-0 balls and plays with a my-ball mentality. The Wildcat wide receiver outmuscles cornerbacks at the catch point and has outstanding body control. According to Pro Football Focus, he had 35 contested catches the past two seasons. He has strong mitts and great hand-eye coordination. On 130 targets this past season he had seven drops and only had two drops the year prior on 130 targets.
"His size, body control and catch radius make him so effective in contested-catch situations," Luke Easterling, an NFL Draft writer for Athlon Sports, said. "That's really his biggest strength, combining all of those traits. He's just a matchup nightmare for most defensive backs at the catch point, which makes him extremely valuable on third downs and in the red zone."
With his size, McMillan can be load for defensive backs to get to the ground. He chews up grass quickly with the ball in his hands due to his long strides. According to PFF, McMillan racked up 967 yards after the catch over past two seasons.
"He's a long strider who can eat up yards after the catch pretty quickly," Easterling said. "He's shown the vision and awareness to set up a clear path and turn short catches into bigger gains when given the space to work. He's not just a "catch it and go down" guy."
McMillan has slick footwork for a man his size. He's a smooth accelerator. He has quick and powerful strides to create separation. There are no wasted movements in his release package or in his route running. Every movement has a purpose. He has a natural feel for finding the soft spots in zone coverage ...
