To spherical out Day 2 of the 2024 NFL Draft the Bucs added one other gifted wideout to the combination by taking Washington vast receiver Jalen McMillan with the 92nd total decide.
With the vast receiver room missing a lot expertise and manufacturing behind Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, Tampa Bay hopes that they discovered an NFL-ready contributor in McMillan, who can take a few of the load off the veteran duo and make defenses recreation plan to include a deadly trio.
After being taken by the Bucs, McMillan spoke about how excited he’s to hitch the group and contribute – whereas additionally changing into the most recent Tampa Bay Huskaneer on the roster.
Jalen McMillan Excited To Crew Up With New Bucs Teammates
When talking to the media about becoming a member of the Bucs, Jalen McMillan gave his preliminary response to taking part in alongside Mike Evans and Chris Godwin on the soccer area.
Bucs WRs Mike Evans and Chris Godwin and QB Baker Mayfield – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR
“It’s surreal,” McMillan stated. “I’ve been watching them for God is aware of how lengthy. Simply to have the ability to be in the identical offense as them and to study from them, I’m going to absorb all the things I would like to absorb and comply with of their footsteps.”
Not solely will he be studying from two top-tier skills on the place, however he will even be hauling in passes from quarterback Baker Mayfield, who firmly established himself as a beginning quarterback throughout his first season in Tampa Bay.
“It’s going to be actually, actually good,” McMillan stated about taking part in with Mayfield. “His confidence goes to make my confidence soar. I watched him at Oklahoma and simply watched him ball. Simply the way in which he performs the sport and his swagger and all the things that comes with him is one thing that I aspire to be.”
What’s going to assist McMillan get used to issues on the NFL stage is the truth that he won’t be the one Washington Husky on the roster and factoring within the passing recreation. Each Cade Otton and seventh-round decide Devin Culp be a part of him on offense on the tight finish place, whereas he may join with defensive linemen Vita Vea and Greg Gaines in addition to outdoors linebacker Joe Tryon-Shoyinka on protection.
“I performed with Cade [Otton] for slightly bit – me and him had been cool,” McMillan stated. “I realized from him when it got here to catching as a result of he at all times caught with no gloves. Simply watching that was form of inspiring. I knew Joe [Tryon-Shoyinka] however Joe was a 12 months earlier than me. I’m fairly certain we’ll join once I get to Tampa, however clearly, I can’t wait to be with these guys and may’t wait to study from Cade [Otton]. And, Tampa, [they are] a bodily group that likes to throw the ball. I’m excited to get there and be a go catcher.”
Jalen McMillan Brings Versatility And Management To Bucs’ Offense
Bucs WR Jalen McMillan – Picture by: USA At present
When what Jalen McMillan’s function could be within the Bucs’ offense, there can be lots of similarities to taking part in with the Huskies final season. The group boasts two high receivers and a handful of tight ends that may additionally contribute. For McMillan, that implies that he must showcase his playmaking capability in a wide range of methods.
“I do know that I’m a flexible receiver, I do know that I’m an outdoor and a slot [receiver] – I can play no matter,” McMillan stated. “I’m able to contribute, I’m able to make performs, and I’m able to do no matter they want me to do.”
After coping with a knee damage final season that saved him out of a few video games and restricted him in others, McMillan was not totally capable of return to his 2022 type, a season the place he had 79 catches for 1,098 yards and 9 touchdowns. Whereas his manufacturing dipped because of this, his toughness to play by damage is one thing that stood out to the Bucs, backing his declare as being a pacesetter.
“I convey management, as effectively,” McMillan added. “I like to deal with the relationships that I construct. I like to be the man that’s at all times checking in on folks and ensuring all people is nice. I need to be that man that involves the locker room and that may draw consideration in a constructive manner and convey nice power to that locker room.”
Bucs Assistant GM John Spytek Breaks Down Jalen McMillan Decide
Bucs assistant GM John Spytek – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR
In such a deep vast receiver class, the Bucs nonetheless had their decide of loads of gifted gamers on the place once they had been on the clock at No. 92.
After deciding on Jalen McMillan, assistant normal supervisor John Spytek additional broke down the decision-making course of of constructing McMillan their man.
“On a group with two actually good receivers, clearly one which went within the high 10 (Rome Odunze) and one other one which went actually early in two (Ja’Lynn Polk), it nonetheless was very easy to see him,” Spytek stated. “A whole lot of instances I believe that man will be forgotten about, however his athleticism, the way in which he naturally runs routes – he performs like the sport is smart to him. There’s a smoothness and easiness to his recreation that you simply actually admire.
“He makes a few of the issues that I believe are tougher for the receiver place look pretty easy. Had it not been for the damage this 12 months, I believe he would have had no likelihood to be the place we simply picked him. He missed some video games this 12 months with an damage, attempting to battle by it, he had 1,000 yards final 12 months [in 2022], which is fairly spectacular. If you speak to the folks in that constructing, they’d a excessive stage of respect for Jalen and thought that he was actually related and near the extent of participant that each Rome and the opposite Ja’Lynn had been.”
The truth is, McMillan led the Huskies in catches and receiving touchdowns in 2022 with 79 receptions for 1,098 yards (13.9 avg.) and 9 TDs. Odunze had 75 catches for 1,145 yards (15.3 avg.) and 7 scores that 12 months. Final 12 months whereas lacking 4 video games on account of damage, McMillan posted 49 receptions for 599 yards (12.4 avg.) and 5 TDs and was Washington’s third-leading receiver.
Tampa Bay may have a steal on their palms with McMillan, who went beneath the radar in comparison with the opposite Huskies’ vast receivers getting into the NFL. His skillset has drawn comparisons to Chris Godwin, who was a third-round decide by the Bucs again in 2017.
Now, McMillan will get his likelihood to compete and meet the excessive expectations that Spytek and the remainder of the group have for him.
“He undoubtedly can line up outdoors, he can spell Mike at X,” Spytek stated on the place McMillan will line up. “He can run lots of the routes that we ask for within the slot to spell Chris. We’ll see, we’ll get him in right here to compete.”
Bucs WR Jalen McMillan and Commanders DB Mike Sainristil – Picture by: USA At present
Spytek continued: “His route-running could be very, very fluid. We talked to a number of DBs all through the method once you ask them like, ‘Who was the toughest cowl that you simply’ve had all 12 months?’ A number of of them talked about him simply because he’s such a superb athlete, such a superb really feel for working routes. That mixture makes it an especially laborious cowl. He has nice palms, he can run – I imply he’s a low 4.4 man on our watch – however he’s nonetheless large. Excessive expectations for him, he’s performed soccer at a excessive stage.”
Merely put, the Bucs are getting a self-proclaimed baller in Jalen McMillan who is able to present that different groups passing up on him was an enormous mistake.
“I can’t wait to be part of this group,” McMillan stated. “You’re going to get a baller. You’re going to get a man that’s assured. You’re going to get a gem within the draft. I can’t wait to be part of this group and make performs for everyone.”
