Jalen McMillan’s Historic Finish
January 5th, 2025
So the regular season just ended with rookie Jalen McMillan hauling in 24 catches, 316 yards and 7 touchdowns through his final five games.
Joe’s never seen a guy pull off those kinds of numbers with limited targets.
McMillan seemed to take it all to another level today with two massive catches with the Bucs’ season on the line, the biggest on a 4th-and-8 bomb from the Saints’ 42 yard line.
That was followed by a 32-yard touchdown grab, the game-winner, two plays later.
Mike Evans and Todd Bowles talked about McMillan’s growth and development after the game. Bowles even shrugged off McMillan’s personal foul for making a gun-looking gesture; Bowles said McMillan’s fingers were taped together so his gesture wasn’t what it appared to be.
Regardless, Joe is impressed.
McMillan didn’t have the greatest rookie season for Bucs receivers. He fought through injuries and drops. Heck, he caught two fewer balls than Trey Palmer did last season. But McMillan proved to be dangerous. Eight touchdowns is not luck.
McMillan looks like a true No. 2 receiver, whereas Palmer and many others before him never have.
A full offseason in an NFL weight room will do McMillan a lot of good, as will playoff experience and more seasoning alongside Baker Mayfield and Mike Evans.
What a special finish by McMillan.
January 5th, 2025 at 5:32 pm
Our WR room has two legit #1 receivers, plus a clear #2 now. I’m a happy fan.
January 5th, 2025 at 5:33 pm
Resign CG14 and next year we will be really dangerous…….
Solid OL solid running game and three great WR…..
January 5th, 2025 at 5:34 pm
It is going to be a hard decision for the Bucs to resign Godwin. McMillan and Bucky are both proving to be this year’s steal of the draft.
January 5th, 2025 at 5:34 pm
Trey Palmer is such a HUGE disappointment
January 5th, 2025 at 5:34 pm
What will that mean for Chris Godwin’s return? I also feel like our Offense functioned better After Godwin went down as Evan’s and McMillan seemed to really flourish. Not a knock on Godwin at all. He’s a GreaT WR.
January 5th, 2025 at 5:34 pm
A gun looking gesture. How weak minded and easily triggered people are. This country was founded on fire arms baby! Fire them cannons!
January 5th, 2025 at 5:36 pm
Didn’t see that coming. I was hoping more progression and honestly, expected it from Trey. However, JMac seems to be the real deal. Goodwin may be expendible due to his production.
January 5th, 2025 at 5:39 pm
Godwin is great. Hope he can come all the way back. If he does, team will be that much better next year.
More certain than ever that this team needs Myles Garrett. Not going to find any two defenders in 1st and 2nd round that will make a bigger contribution than Garrett. Trade both 1 and 2 to the Browns. They are dumb enough to go for it.
January 5th, 2025 at 5:41 pm
But bring back Godwin.
January 5th, 2025 at 5:43 pm
Needle is pointing up for him. ME13 is getting long in the tooth but has proven still dangerous. Godwin will be back and dominant like before and Jalen will keep getting better. Hes in the best WR room you could possible be in. The selflessness of both CG14 and ME13 alone is great then add in a future hall of famer and pro bowler to learn from geez that dude is blessed to be in that room
January 5th, 2025 at 5:45 pm
# 15 is slick !!!
January 5th, 2025 at 5:46 pm
It’s great, because Godwin is done with the Bucs…maybe with football. Remember when Paris Warren broke his ankle? He was never the same.
January 5th, 2025 at 5:46 pm
Weight room away
January 5th, 2025 at 5:46 pm
sign godwin back, sign lavonte, sign kyzir white and get garrett somehow…
then draft an edge, and ilb, and many other defensive draft pieces…
maybe a rb or wr at the right spot if he’s the right guy in the draft…like a scateboooo
January 5th, 2025 at 5:47 pm
The penalty was crazy,,,, the refs were bad for both teams today ,,, they kind of took over the game
January 5th, 2025 at 5:49 pm
Luther Buckner…
January 5th, 2025 at 5:49 pm
Jalen is doing very well. He seems like such a good guy too. With Mike and Chris as his mentors, he is going to be just as great.
January 5th, 2025 at 5:49 pm
yeah jmac is looking like a mighty fine draft pick the past 5 or so games…
in fact with all our great picks this past year, he’s debatably up there with the best of them now…he almost up there with bucky now…almost
January 5th, 2025 at 5:51 pm
true true…
jmac can just be a sponge for a few years and learn everything from mike and chris to flourish……easy peasy
January 5th, 2025 at 5:52 pm
I am not going to lie after watching his performance from the first half I was highly disappointed by him and had lost faith in him for this season.
However the past 5-6 weeks now he’s really stepped up and developed himself a nice role with the offense. Not even just a nice role but an X-Factor somewhat in a few games. Crazy I still can’t believe I am typing this.
This guy is doing his damn thing. Gonna have to work on that FD celebration thing ASAP though. Lol
January 5th, 2025 at 5:58 pm
@ Buccaneer Bonzai Says:
– First off he had a dislocated ankle they said. Where does it say he broke the ankle? I don’t think they stated that. Also broken bones players are meant to come back from with time. I do think resigning him though would be the right and proper thing to do. Mike Evans is not playing his best football we all have to know that.
We will need help on offense and with no Mike and no Godwin that just spells bad choice’s by management. Let’s overcome this injury snafu and work hard to keep this man’s career going, in exchange he works hard for TB.
January 5th, 2025 at 6:05 pm
If we can get Godwin back for a reasonable price, I’m all for it. However, McMillan is going to be a stud. I watched a lot of him at Washington and he was a really good college receiver. Remember, his teammate was Odunze, and without the injuries his last season, he probably would have gone in the 1st round.
January 5th, 2025 at 6:07 pm
I would hate to see cg go but would understand if they didn’t sign him and signed a beastly defensive end that would solve a lot of the defense side problems. They sure have trouble drafting a good one that’s for sure.
January 5th, 2025 at 6:08 pm
Godwin will be back. Drafted players with that team first attitude has always been retained. He’s only gonna leave if someone offers some big numbers his way.
January 5th, 2025 at 6:17 pm
If he stays healthy he’ll get 1k next year.
He tracks the ball, especially deep balls as well as anybody on the team. His hands may be 2nd only to Chris, he has great body control, he’s bought into his blocking chores. If he keeps learning and gaining confidence, he’ll be a WR 1 talent for us 🤞🏼🤘🏼
January 5th, 2025 at 6:31 pm
I hope CG14 doesn’t retire. Who can blame him if he did? 2 illegal hits that ended his season for the rest of the year. Kudos to MacMillan. He’s got great hands; he’s fast and smart. Also HEY JOE, HOW ABOUT A SHOUTOUT TO KO KIEFT?
January 5th, 2025 at 7:00 pm
McMillan was a 3rd round steal. Palmer was a 6th round pick. Big difference.
January 5th, 2025 at 7:37 pm
I fear if Coen leaves Godwin goes with him. He was having a career year in Coens offense before getting injured. I want Coen and Godwin back. This offense will be damn near unstoppable. Plus if 1 goes down they still have 2 studs. If you go into next season with Evans and J Mac and one or both go down where do we go? Don’t even want to think about that!
January 5th, 2025 at 8:17 pm
Being a 29 year old WR who the Bucs had previously rewarded even with injury, i think Godwin will return on a reasonable contract. I could see him staying on around $20m given he did have a great start but then had a serious injury and missed half the year. McMillan we probably need to see him at least replicate this season before we could really consoder letting Godwin go
January 5th, 2025 at 8:56 pm
JMac just needed time. Hell, he got INJURED in like his very first game (had a TD there too, I believe), then missed a few games entirely, & played HURT for several games after he got back. And, seems like he got a little ‘beat-up’ in training camp as well. Plus, had very few reps (if any at all) with Baker, all during the preseason AND he had Chris Godwin (and Mike Evans) there in front of him. So, GOD… What TH Would You EXPECT From a ‘ROOKIE’ WR, learning a brand new offense, & etc. with a brand new TEAM. It’s amazing what he has done. It was SO ridiculous listening to all of these BIG (idiots) ‘whiners’ on here all throughout the season just expecting him (a 3RD ROUNDER, & #3-WR behind both CG and ME) to immediately step onto the field, & be the next Randy Moss. Ridiculous.
January 5th, 2025 at 9:36 pm
It’s crazy to me that Trey Palmer can’t gel in this offense.
January 5th, 2025 at 9:57 pm
Leave the first down signals to the refs.
January 6th, 2025 at 2:10 am
Yeah I don’t get the penalty for the celebration the nfl just gets softer and softer over time like they are run by feminists or something
January 6th, 2025 at 3:28 am
Even if there is regression in Godwin you have to keep him. Unfortunate to have another injury just as he was hitting his stride again from AcL iinjury.even if Godwin isn’t what he was when coming back he fills the gap. 80 percent of Godwin is still better than half the league
January 6th, 2025 at 9:54 am
All of this talk about letting Godwin walk in FA is flat out ludicrous. How easily we forget that he was leading the league in receiving this year before he went down. Hell, it took the other WR’s around the league several weeks to catch up to him after he went down. Godwin is still a major part of this team and the Bucs should definitely open up a bag to retain him. If he finds a way to get healthy enough to help during the playoffs that would be great, but honestly we need to let him sit for the rest of the year and begin negotiating with him as soon as it is allowed.
January 6th, 2025 at 11:47 am
I knew he was going to be Awesome. Next season things will get even better. Let’s Go Baby!! Good job adjusting and even better with the 7 in 5 little brother. I love what you bring the Bucs..
January 6th, 2025 at 12:05 pm
where r all the baker bashers last season u all said he was a middling qb or 2nd midget etc what a bunch of morons even on this post talking bout betting rid of CG holy shish u people r friggin nuts
January 6th, 2025 at 10:57 pm
Re-sign Godwin
TRADE for Miles Garrett
Be a top3 team.