Tetairoa McMillan’s 40-yard dash drama might just be the gift Jerry Jones and the Cowboys never expected. With Dallas sitting at pick 12 in April’s draft, McMillan — initially projected as a top-10 selection — could suddenly be within reach after his Pro Day raised eyebrows across the league. The Arizona wideout’s inconsistent 40 times might scare off teams picking ahead of Dallas, potentially pushing the big-bodied target right into the Cowboys’ lap.
“The projected Top 10 pick in next month’s NFL Draft ran the 40-yard dash and unofficially clocked in at multiple times, ranging from 4.46-4.53 seconds, according to multiple outlets. McMillan’s unofficial 40-yard dash time (4.48 seconds) reported by Jordan Schulz would’ve been tied for the 25th-fastest time at the NFL Scouting Combine, which McMillan didn’t participate in. McMillan is also skipping Big 12 Pro Day in Frisco, Texas this week.” – Justin Spears Tuscon.com
Let’s be real — blazing speed isn’t everything in the NFL. We’ve all seen track stars flame out while technically “slower” receivers dominate on Sundays. That 4.3 or 4.4 time might look pretty on paper, but it doesn’t guarantee a single touchdown in the pros.
Size and Skill Matter More Than Pure Speed
The NFL comparison game tells us everything we need to know about McMillan’s potential impact. “McMillan has drawn NFL comparisons to other big-bodied wide receivers, including Mike Evans, Larry Fitzgerald and Drake London. Evans ran the 40-yard dash in 4.53 seconds at the NFL Scouting Combine; Fitzgerald ran it in 4.63 seconds, while London posted a time of 4.5 seconds.”
Those names should make Cowboys fans sit up straight.
Larry Fitzgerald is arguably one of football’s most underappreciated pass-catching legends, while Evans has been a touchdown machine throughout his career. London is still writing his story, but after hauling in 100 catches for 1,271 yards and 9 TDs last season, he’s well on his way. If McMillan fits this mold — and all signs point that way — Jerry Jones should be working the phones to make sure he lands in Dallas.
McMillan himself understands his value isn’t tied to a stopwatch. “I have an advantage, being 6-foot-4 and being a bigger receiver,” McMillan said. “I feel like I can run any route on a route tree and, you know, I’m confident enough to know that I’m gonna go get the ball when it’s passed to me.”
For a Cowboys team desperately needing a reliable big-body target to complement CeeDee Lamb, McMillan’s skill set — regardless of his exact 40 time — could be exactly what Dak Prescott has been missing. Sometimes the best draft picks come when other teams overthink the small stuff while missing the bigger picture.