Washington WR Jalen McMillan Is Bucs’ Second, Third-Round Pick
April 26th, 2024
New Bucs receiver Jalen McMillan, a third-round pick.
Joe doesn’t believe you can go wrong taking a stab with a player from a winning program.
While Jalen McMillan was not one of Washington’s best receivers, he was good enough to get drafted on the second day of the draft by Tampa Bay.
From TheAthletic.com:
SUMMARY: A three-year starter, McMillan worked primarily out of the slot in former Washington offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb’s spread scheme (91.4 percent of his snaps came inside over the last two seasons). The highest-ranked recruit in the Huskies’ 2020 class, McMillan was Michael Penix Jr.’s top target in 2022, but he went somewhat overlooked in 2023, because of his injury and usage as an underneath weapon (71.1 percent of his catches came within 10 yards of the line of scrimmage). McMillan is a rangy pass catcher (his baseball background as a centerfielder shows) with first-step acceleration and sharp footwork to stair-step or deke coverage at the stem. I want to see him amplify his aggression when the ball is in the air, but he uses his length well to snare throws away from his frame. Overall, McMillan will need to prove he can handle the physicality of playing inside at the next level, but he has three -level potential as a pass catcher and will be an intriguing option for a team that prioritizes length and speed from the slot. Stylistically, his game reminds me of a juiced-up Jakobi Meyers.
McMillian was not Michael Penix’s primary receiver but he got the ball and he got the job done. He averaged 12 yards a catch and had five touchdowns for the Huskies who advanced to the college football championship game.
In 2022, McMillian did haul in 79 catches for 1,098 yards receiving. Not too shabby.
April 26th, 2024 at 11:12 pm
He had a bad knee all year since injuring it in a September game. Tried to play through it.
April 26th, 2024 at 11:13 pm
This seems like a Coen new OC pick. I think he could have got him in round 4.
April 26th, 2024 at 11:14 pm
Could he be the Cooper Kupp Role?
Bigger slot receiver with decent speed great hands and route running.
April 26th, 2024 at 11:14 pm
The third receiver drafted on that college roster in the 3rd round?
April 26th, 2024 at 11:14 pm
WE GOT BETTER IN THE TRENCHES
BUT WE DID NOT GET EXPLOSIVE AND WE DID NOT ADD SPEED
I GIVE THIS DRAFT AND OFFSEASON A C+
WE REALLY NEED TO GET MORE EXPLOSIVE PLAYMAKERS AND ONE SHUT DOWN CORNER TO WIN ANOTHER SUPERBOWL
April 26th, 2024 at 11:14 pm
Solid!
He’ll get his chance to compete and earn his playing time.
He is going to be a NFL rookie and go through that process.
We will need him in the second half of the season.
April 26th, 2024 at 11:15 pm
Licht’s WR draft picks tend to either be huge bust or big hits….not
much in between. We’ll see, undersized but hopefully not Kenny Bell
April 26th, 2024 at 11:16 pm
We needed a WR……think Packers took our RB……need a RB in round 4.
April 26th, 2024 at 11:16 pm
And another Huskie drafted by Licht. That’s 5 I can think of. ASJ, Vea, JTS, Otton, Macmillan…
April 26th, 2024 at 11:16 pm
Your new slot.
April 26th, 2024 at 11:17 pm
Finally the receiver. He can ease his way into the slot, then replace Godwin there full time next season. Been a very good draft so far.
April 26th, 2024 at 11:17 pm
I KNOW TRADING FUTURE 1ST ROUND PICKS ISNT JASON LIT’S STYLE BUT…
IF WE COULD GET A SHUT DOWN CORNER LIKE PATRICK SURTAIN
OR WE COULD GET AN EXPLOSIVE PLAYMAKER LIKE DEEBO SAMUEL
YOU HAVE TO DO IT.
WE HAVE EVERYTHING BUT EXPLOSIVE SPEED ON OFFENSIVE AND A SHUT DOWN CORNER
ITS A BUCS LIFE
April 26th, 2024 at 11:17 pm
JARRETT — STOP DOING AMPHETAMINES BEFORE POSTING and then stop being a simp.
April 26th, 2024 at 11:18 pm
Jalen McMillan HT/WT 6’1 192
Kenny Bell HT/WT 6’1 192
😬
April 26th, 2024 at 11:18 pm
It seems solid. BSPN had him 12th ranked WR, which isn’t too bad for a late 3rd round pick (18th ranked went to Jets at top of round). I just want Estime though. That would make this draft awesome.
April 26th, 2024 at 11:18 pm
So far licht and co get am a+
April 26th, 2024 at 11:19 pm
Boss – I agree
April 26th, 2024 at 11:19 pm
Not under sized. Only 1 inch and 5 lbs lighter than Cooper Kupp
April 26th, 2024 at 11:20 pm
I like the pick of Barton, Smith looks like a solid choice. Braswell and the third Washington receiver McMillan are sketchy in my opinion. Time will tell, Licht usually does a better job then this draft.
April 26th, 2024 at 11:20 pm
I shudder when I think back to the Mark Dumdumnik era. A true maroon at the job.
April 26th, 2024 at 11:21 pm
McMillen had 6th best 3 cone drill at the combine and also the 6th best 20 yard shuttle time at the combine.
He also had a clean and fast gauntlet run even with some passes behind him.
April 26th, 2024 at 11:25 pm
@jarrett
Understand that Debo Samuel’s combine scores were all worse than Jalen McMillan’s.
It does not mean he will be as good. But stop hating the guy because you think he is not explosive enough. At least have some facts to support your position.
April 26th, 2024 at 11:25 pm
Canabuc – I’ll bet Luke McCaffrey is the next Cooper Kupp who got picked by Commanders. This guy reminds me of Robbie Andersen.
April 26th, 2024 at 11:26 pm
Hope he doesn’t play like Kenny Bell with that Afro Samurai hairdo, and yes Jarrett please kill your noise. You’re not typing anything nobody has read before. We don’t read your all capitals any easier than regular type. Don’t be that dude dude
April 26th, 2024 at 11:32 pm
I has Licht at A+ after round one and two but….
no seing yet the 3rd round picks. We have an injury prone CB as the proven piece of our corner group so we could do with another one instead of another safety but (but we’ll see how Bowels uses him).
WR -pick just seems – just meh but in fairness know little about him.
So we will see tomorrow how it rounds out.
April 26th, 2024 at 11:35 pm
All caps + no punctuation = ignore. The other weirdos who used to do that have thankfully left. Regarding the op, this guy is relatively highly ranked by most. Great year last year. Worked through injuries this year on a team with other studs. Look forward to seeing how he fits in with the rest of the WR crew.
April 26th, 2024 at 11:35 pm
Problem with CB is that they’ve been flying off the board. At one point 4 went in a row. The value isn’t there, but I like that Tykee plays slot and safety. Sounds like the perfect Bowles player from Georgia.
April 26th, 2024 at 11:39 pm
Bucs will be running a lot of 11 personnel so McMillan is a home run selection.
April 26th, 2024 at 11:42 pm
Agree – we missed out on the good CBs unfortunately.
April 26th, 2024 at 11:47 pm
I am all in on the round one Barton pick. The rest are head scratchers for me.
April 26th, 2024 at 11:48 pm
I predict the Bucs will get an average to poor grade from the analyst
April 26th, 2024 at 11:49 pm
It’s easy to look at the draft and say McMillen is the 3rd best receiver from Washington but if you look at 2022 stats he was their #1 receiver by a good margin. He was better than Odunze in 2022. Food for thought.
April 27th, 2024 at 12:49 am
Second sons on the second night.
April 27th, 2024 at 2:00 am
“Colin In Canada” – I agree with this. I thought he was their best receiver the year before last, too… And, him getting hurt was the only reason that Polk got to step in there the way he did. Hopefully, he’ll be 💯 fully healthy now, & fully recovered back to where he was pre injury. If he is he’ll step right in there at #3 and never look back.
April 27th, 2024 at 3:52 am
Just knew Licht would find a U Dub player to draft, but did not expect a WR that was the 3rd option on his college team.
Some can say “look at 2022” or say “he played hurt”….& both may be good points, but he’s likely a #4 WR for the Bucs & there will several of those types that be on the board Day3.
April 27th, 2024 at 6:15 am
Don’t like this at all. I did not like his tape. He looks sloppy. Maybe it was his injury situations but I don’t see it. He might be a really good special teams player though. Hope I’m wrong
April 27th, 2024 at 7:58 am
Some people were saying he is the most underrated WR In The draft. Put him in the slot and he should eat. Maybe he can be like Godwin. He has good size and speed so there is plenty of room to improve too.
April 27th, 2024 at 8:09 am
I love all the GMs in here that have no clue, watched a sec of tape, and think they know what they’re talking about. Our team of people that actually pick the players actually know what they’re doing. GO BUCS!!
April 27th, 2024 at 8:12 am
Dave Pear Says:
April 26th, 2024 at 11:20 pm
I shudder when I think back to the Mark Dumdumnik era. A true maroon at the job.
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You should have been a Buc fan during the 1980s–real horror show.