NFL mock draft: Tetairoa McMillan falls to Arizona Cardinals at No. 16 in 2025 NFL draft

Posted by author February 10, 2025 NFL

Spread the love

Several recent NFL mock draft projections have the Arizona Wildcats‘ Tetairoa McMillan being picked in the Top 6 of the 2025 NFL draft, which would make him the school’s highest-ever draft pick.

But one NFL mock draft prediction for the dynamic wide receiver doesn’t agree with the lofty picks for Tetairoa in the first round of the April 24 NFL draft.

It has Tetairoa dropping all the way to the Arizona Cardinals at No. 16 in the 2025 NFL draft.

That mock draft, compiled by the33rdteam.com, is by far the biggest outlier in NFL draft projections for McMillan.

Of McMillan’s potential drop to the Cardinals, Kyle Crabbs writes: “The Cardinals gobble up a sliding Tetairoa McMillan with their first-round pick, giving this team two big perimeter pass catchers between him and Marvin Harrison Jr. Between the two and Trey McBride, QB Kyler Murray will have little to no excuse to not break out again in 2025 — and if he doesn’t the Cardinals will know who they need to have their uncomfortable conversation about.”

Could Tetairoa McMillan drop in 2025 NFL draft?

McMillan amassed a school record 3,423 receiving yards during his three seasons in Tucson. He had 84 catches for 1,319 yards and eight touchdowns last season.

Could he really drop to No. 16 in the NFL draft?

USA TODAY Sports projects that McMillan will go to the Las Vegas Raiders at No. 6 in the draft, with Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz writing of the receiver: “Unless Las Vegas pushes its chips in for Sam Darnold or another established veteran in free agency, this remains a spot to watch for a potential trade up for a quarterback. As it stands, however, the massive McMillan (6-5, 212 pounds) can help the Raiders move the chains consistently and finish off drives as an imposing red zone target.”

The Arizona Republic also predicts the Raiders taking McMillan at that spot, with Theo Mackie writing: “Brock Bowers — last year’s No. 13 pick — might already be the NFL’s best tight end. Now, after trading Davante Adams, it’s time to pair Bowers with a true number-one receiver. Sure, the Raiders would love to take a quarterback here, but with both top-end signal-callers off the board, McMillan is their best bet to improve a passing game in dire need of help.”

Anything can happen in the NFL draft, but it seems highly unlikely at best that McMillan would be there for the Cardinals when they make the No. 16 pick in the first round of the 2025 NFL draft, if they stay in that position.

But if McMillan were still available when the Cardinals make their first pick, he sure would be hard for Arizona to pass on.

Reach Jeremy Cluff at jeremy.cluff@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter @Jeremy_Cluff.

Support local journalism: Subscribe to azcentral.com today.