Panthers WR Tetairoa McMillan pounds the table for Carolina to target his former college teammate in 2026 NFL Draft

Arizona defensive back Treydan Stukes (DB49) speaks to members of the media during the NFL Combine at the Indiana Convention Center. Jacob Musselman-Imagn Images

The Carolina Panthers had a homerun in the 2025 NFL Draft after selecting wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan and now the team’s former first-round pick is making a strong sales pitch for his former Arizona teammate.

The 2026 NFL Draft is just two days away from kicking off and the Carolina Panthers are sitting in a good spot starting with the 19th overall pick in the first-round.

While the Panthers are seemingly taking a BPA approach based on what general manager Dan Morgan said last week, experts are zeroing in on Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman being the team’s preferred first-round target.

If Thieneman comes off the board before the Panthers are on the clock, the team would have to pivot to another plan. One of the team’s top offensive weapons is already pounding the table for another safety prospect that happens to be his former teammate.

Tetairoa McMillan advocates for Treydan Stukes ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft

The Panthers hit gold last year in the first-round by selecting wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan out of Arizona, who went on to win the AP Offensive Rookie of the Year award. Now, McMillan is advocating for another Arizona Wildcat coming out in the 2026 NFL Draft.

That player is safety Treydan Stukes, who’s developing quite a lot of first-round buzz leading up to the draft. It would be a shock to see Carolina take Stukes with the 19th overall pick, but crazier things have happened in the draft and McMillan had high praise the Panthers should consider listening to.