CHARLOTTE — Tetairoa McMillan has traveled more miles in the past three weeks than some people do in a lifetime. From California to Wisconsin, from Wisconsin to North Carolina, from there to Arizona, then Hawaii, then back to North Carolina.

Has he even had time to sleep since being drafted No. 8 overall by the Carolina Panthers in late April?

"To be honest with you, not really," laughed McMillan this weekend after the first day of rookie minicamp.

"I think I came the farthest; I had to travel the farthest out of a rookie, so, I mean, man, as you said, you know I've been going from coast to coast, just on the flight, so anytime I get to stretch my legs out and rest, I'm going to do it."

Thus is the life of a Top 10 pick who grew up in the Golden State, still has family on the islands, and is now the face of the 2025 draft class here in Charlotte. It would be understandable, expected even, if McMillan—TMac—felt the pressure of the moment. So few can truly understand what it means to have so much of a franchise's hopes placed on their shoulders.

For the kid constantly armed with a laugh and a smile, though, it's a privilege.

"There's no pressure, to be honest with you," promised TMac. "I'm just, I'm fortunate enough to have the opportunity that I do. Obviously, I'm going to soak it all in at the end of the day, but I'm going to try to be the best player I can be, and I'm going to try to help this team as much as possible, whatever that may be.

"I feel like I can lean on any of the coaches, any of the players here, and then vice versa, they can lean on me. So, I'm just looking forward to playing this season and more to come, and I'm super excited to see what we do."

As for what the Panthers offense and TMac can do, there is a blueprint (presumably) in place. Coach Dave Canales spent a year with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as the offensive coordinator. During that time, he coached future Hall-of-Famer Mike Evans, scheming the receiver to 1,255 yards and 13 touchdowns, both marking or tied for the second-highest respective numbers in Evans' illustrious career.

Evans is currently 6-5 231 pounds, but he clocked in at the NFL combine back in 2014 at 225 pounds. He's made a career of bodying defenders who test him for 50-50 balls. McMillan is 6-4 212 pounds, with the chance to add more weight, and bullied opponents while at Arizona in a way that drew comparisons to Evans so often that McMillan jokes he's tired of watching Mike Evans tape now but knows there's more coming soon.

"I'm sure Coach Canales and Coach Moore is going to show me a lot of Mike Evans' film here in the future. So, I better get comfortable watching those tapes."

Beyond the Evans tape, though, McMillan arrived in Charlotte confident in what he could bring to an offense that he feels mirrors the one he played in college.

"Fortunate enough for me, I was able to play in a similar offense," explained McMillan, "you know, pro-style offense in college, so it's an easier transition for me as far as playbook wise for most. So I've been blessed in that aspect for sure."

In that offense with the Wildcats, McMillan averaged 1,361 yards and nine touchdowns a year over the past two seasons. His 1,319 receiving yards in 2024 were third-most in FBS.

Even with the ease in transition, McMillan made himself a sponge during the two days of rookie minicamp, always at the hip of receivers coach Rob Moore and spending one-on-one time with his position coach during specials teams drills, breaking down every nuance of a catch.

"I feel like Coach Moore is going to really turn me from good to great," predicted McMillan. "So being able to just be around him as much as possible, you know, being able to hear from him, listen, and just gain as much wisdom and knowledge that he has for the game for me, it's going to only elevate me."

McMillan will return to work with Moore and the offense—joining Bryce Young for practice for the first time—during voluntary workouts and OTAs.

But first, he's going to take a nap.