Scouting Jets Potential Pick at 7; WR Tetairoa McMillan

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When Jets GM Darren Mougey sets up shop to run his first ever draft as the New York Jets GM, one of the primary targets he’s expected to consider is Arizona wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan.  Seventh overall would be the highest the Jets have drafted a wide receiver since Keyshawn Johnson went first overall back in 1996.  Should things transpire that way, here’s what you need to know about McMillan.

Name: Tetairoa McMillan

Position: Wide Receiver

Ht/Wt: 6′ 4”/219

Arms: 31.5”

Hands: 10”

40 time: 4.55 (pro day)

Game Speed: McMillan didn’t run at the NFL combine but recently held his pro day where onlookers had him clocked between 4.48 and 4.57 with the official time later announced as 4.55.  For a 6′ 4” 219 pound wide receiver, that’s plenty fast.  On film, you see a player whose play speed is more than enough to be an impact player.

Hands: Perhaps the most impressive aspect of his game, McMillan boasts some of the best hands in the country if not tops on the list.  He first popped up on our radar a couple of years ago when he was seen not only making some of the best catches you’ll ever see (like this one right here) but he was making it look easy.  McMillan will be a day 1 red zone weapon who should be a nightmare for any opposing DB to cover.

Separation: This may be the one aspect of his game that’s lacking as McMillan doesn’t create as much separation as you might like, but with his length and hands, he’s an “always open” guy even if there’s a DB trailing him.

Run after catch: While McMillan won’t remind you of Tyreek Hill with the ball in his hands, he does move in and out of traffic far better than most receivers his size.  Far from just a big straight-line plodder, McMillan will make defenders miss and get the most out of whatever situation he’s put in.

Body Control: Another area in which McMillan stands out.  We’d mentioned his ability to be an immediate threat in the red zone due to his size and hands earlier on, but his body control also comes in to play.  McMillan is always aware of where he is on the football field and does a great job of contorting himself to stay in bounds on throws that call for it as he showed here.

Route running: This may be the area of McMillan’s game that needs the most work.  Perhaps hindered by the fact that college DB’s have a hard time competing with him at the catch point, he hasn’t had to be an elite route runner to produce.  It’s also no great secret that towering receivers like McMillan won’t be as quick in and out of their breaks the way a smaller receiver might be.  But his movement skills after the catch suggest he has the ability to develop this part of his game.

Projections: A top 10 darling for much of the draft process, some now feel McMillan’s 40 time will drop him to the middle/bottom of round one.  If a team gets him in that spot they should be doing cartwheels.  If the Jets get him at seven, Gang Green fans should do the same.

Want to read and talk some more about who the Jets should draft with the seventh pick?  Click here to check out the discussion in our forums.

Glenn Naughton

Glenn was Born in the Bronx, New York and has followed the Jets religiously despite being stationed in several different countries and time zones around the world. He now resides in England and has been a JetNation member since 2005. Glenn will bleed green with the rest of us through the highs and lows.

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