The Los Angeles Chargers have spent most of the offseason trying to restock their offensive supporting cast. While the team added veterans like Mike Williams and Tyler Conklin in free agency, they’ve yet to make a long-term investment in their pass-catching corps.
With Justin Herbert entering his prime, the need for a dynamic playmaker on the outside has never been more apparent. That’s what makes the Chargers’ latest mock draft projection from The Athletic's Daniel Popper so enticing.
Popper has the Chargers landing Arizona wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan with the No. 22 overall pick in a scenario that would feel like a dream come true for fans of the franchise.
Most mock drafts have McMillan going inside the top 15, with some projecting him as a potential top-10 or even top-five pick. It would be surprising to see him slide all the way to No. 22, but if he does, the Chargers could find themselves in an ideal draft-day scenario.
Chargers land Tetairoa McMillan in latest 2025 NFL Mock Draft
A former four-star recruit, McMillan spent just three years at Arizona but left as the program's all-time leading receiver. He finished his college career with a school-record 3,423 yards, 26 touchdowns (tied for third all-time), and 213 catches (tied for fourth all-time).
McMillan burst onto the scene as a true freshman in 2022, leading all FBS freshmen with 702 receiving yards and eight touchdowns. He followed that up with consecutive 1,300+ yard seasons, earning first-team All-American honors in 2024.
At 6-foot-4, 219 pounds, McMillan is an alpha-type receiver. He blends impressive size with exceptional ball skills to consistently win in contested-catch situations and make tough grabs look routine. His large catch radius and reliable hands make him a quarterback’s best friend, especially on third downs and in tight windows.
While there are some minor concerns about his lack of deep speed and his average separation skills, McMillan projects as a high-floor, impact starter who can thrive as a possession receiver and red-zone threat, similar to players like Tee Higgins or Drake London.
McMillan would also be the perfect complement to Ladd McConkey in the Chargers' wide receiver room. McConkey brings the quickness and route-running savvy to work underneath and out of the slot, while McMillan offers size, physicality, and a massive catch radius on the outside.
Together, they’d give Herbert a well-rounded, high-upside duo to rebuild the passing attack around. Think of McMillan as the player the Chargers wanted Quentin Johnston to be. Unlike Johnston, McMillan has some of the strongest hands in this receiver class.
If McMillan somehow slips to No. 22, it should be a no-brainer for the Chargers. Other wide receivers like Ohio State's Emeka Egbuka or Texas' Matthew Golden could also be in play, but neither brings the same blend of size, ball skills, and scheme fit that McMillan offers.
He’s the type of outside threat who perfectly complements McConkey’s skill set and gives the Chargers a much-needed physical presence in the passing game. For a team looking to build a balanced, reliable receiving corps around Herbert, McMillan would be the ideal pick.
It might be wishful thinking, but if McMillan somehow makes it to 22, the Chargers shouldn’t hesitate.