NFL Draft 2025: Wildcats Duo Projected to Go in First Round

The 2025 NFL Draft is still a ways away, but ESPN’s Matt Miller has already begun making predictions about which players will be selected in the first round. According to Miller’s Football Power Index (FPI), the Arizona Cardinals have a 50.5% chance of earning a top-10 pick, and two Arizona Wildcats are projected to be taken in the first round.

The 2025 NFL Draft is shaping up to be an exciting one

Tetairoa McMillan: A Sneaky No. 1 Receiver

Miller predicts that Tetairoa McMillan, a 6-foot-5, 210-pound wide receiver, will be taken by the Seattle Seahawks. McMillan had an impressive season last year, catching 90 passes for 1,402 yards and 10 touchdowns. With quarterback Noah Fifita returning to Arizona, McMillan is poised for another great season.

Tetairoa McMillan is a top prospect in the 2025 NFL Draft

Jonah Savaiinaea: A Dominant Force on the O-Line

The other Wildcat projected to be taken in the first round is guard Jonah Savaiinaea, who Miller believes will go to the Houston Texans at No. 23. Savaiinaea is a 6-foot-5, 330-pounder who locked down the right side for Arizona last season. His presence would improve Houston’s offensive line, which finished 25th in the NFL in run block win rate last season.

Jonah Savaiinaea is a top prospect on the offensive line

What’s Next for the Arizona Cardinals?

According to the FPI, the Cardinals will earn the No. 9 pick in the draft and select Colorado two-way star Travis Hunter. Hunter is a versatile player who logged 984 snaps last season, including 412 on offense and 572 on defense. He proved to be an all-around playmaker, recording 57 receptions and five touchdowns on offense, and three interceptions and seven pass breakups on defense.

Travis Hunter is a top prospect in the 2025 NFL Draft

The Cardinals may turn to the “best player available” approach at No. 9, and Hunter fits the description. Arizona is building a solid foundation, and the front office could realistically turn to this approach next April.

The Future is Bright for the Arizona Wildcats

The Arizona Wildcats are currently projected to be one of the top teams in the Big 12 this season, and these two stars play a part in the team’s recent success. With McMillan and Savaiinaea leading the way, the Wildcats are poised for another great season.

The Arizona Wildcats are on the rise