Total Pro Sports
A fascinating behind-the-scenes video shows the Carolina Panthers nearly pulling off a blockbuster trade with the Los Angeles Rams at the 2025 NFL Draft before ultimately using the No. 8 pick on Tetairoa McMillan.
The Panthers posted a video of the front office scrambling to make a decision with the No. 8 selection. The Los Angeles Rams (holders of the No. 26 pick) inquired about a possible trade with Carolina to see if they’d be interested in moving down.
Carolina GM Dan Morgan and Executive Vice President of Football Operations Brandt Tilis went back and forth on the decision with the clock ticking. But the Rams declined their final offer, and the end of the video shows Morgan giving the thumbs up for Tetairoa McMillan at No. 8:
A blockbuster trade almost went down on Draft night 😯
(via @panthers) pic.twitter.com/lX4tjW5aDi
— NFL (@NFL) June 4, 2025
The Rams wound up trading down from the No. 26 spot, surrendering that pick and the No. 101 selection to the Atlanta Falcons so they could draft Tennessee edge rusher James Pearce Jr. In return, LA received the 46th and 242nd picks and Atlanta’s 2026 first-rounder.
Tetairoa McMillan was the second wide receiver taken off the board, after the Jacksonville Jaguars picked Colorado two-way phenom Travis Hunter at No. 2. The Jags moved up from the No. 5 spot via the Cleveland Browns to get the Heisman Trophy winner.
Carolina also used its 2024 first-round pick (they traded up to No. 32) on a wide receiver, selecting South Carolina product Xavier Legette.
The 22-year-old McMillan was a superstar for the Arizona Wildcats, earning Consensus All-American and First-team All-Big 12 honors in 2024 after catching 84 passes for 1,319 yards and eight touchdowns.
Carolina has lacked a true No. 1 wideout since dealing D.J. Moore to the Chicago Bears in the blockbuster trade up for Bryce Young. We’ll see if McMillan can emerge as a superstar and help elevate this long-struggling Carolina offense.
