Washington receiver Jalen McMillan is one of three Husky wideouts who will hear his name called during the 2024 NFL Draft.
A reliable receiver on a talented team, McMillan can sometimes be the forgotten guy but should immediately help an NFL team. Here are some landing spots for Jalen McMillan.
Jalen McMillan Landing Spots
McMillan is a reliable target, capable of beating press man coverage and finding the soft spot against the zone. He’s not the twitchiest athlete in the draft, but he’s a fluid mover with a high floor, thanks to his excellent football IQ and feel for the game.
McMillan would thrive in an offense based on timing and has the size and experience to play inside or outside.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The resurgence of Baker Mayfield has changed the outlook for Tampa Bay. Originally viewed as a rental, Mayfield has transformed how the Buccaneers play football and consequently altered the team’s needs.
McMillan is a perfect complement to Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, who could step in and be a reliable third option against slot corners.
New York Jets
The Jets need more receivers Aaron Rodgers (or Zach Wilson or Trevor Siemian) can trust to find space and catch the football. McMillan does both things well, and his reliability should appeal to New York’s coaches.
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McMillan is an appealing choice to general managers because his game doesn’t require one specific type of quarterback, and he should be able to build rapport with different signal-callers.
Denver Broncos
All signs point to the Broncos revamping their offense in the offseason. Reports indicate they’ll release Russell Wilson and eat some dead cap money to move forward into a new, Sean Payton-guided offensive system.
There are shades of Devery Henderson in McMillan’s game, and should the team move on from Jerry Jeudy, McMillan may be an attractive replacement for Payton.
Strengths
- Capable of lining up as an outside or slot receiver thanks to good size at 6’0″ and 188 pounds.
- He’s a move-the-sticks type of threat who quickly earned the trust of Michael Penix thanks to great hands and reliable route-running ability.
- Can make the right play at the right moment, showing awareness of the down and distance and manipulating defenders’ positioning to open a target window.
- McMillan has enough acceleration and burst to create separation at and after the catch point.
- Natural hands catcher with plus body control. He has a solid catch radius that helps bring in errant passes, and he rarely has drops.
- He’s a high-floor talent who can help any offense improve on Day 1.
Weaknesses
- Has a thinner lower body that may not be able to add bulk without losing speed and acceleration ability.
- McMillan relies more on timely movements and nuance than sheer athleticism, decreasing his margin for error at the next level. His NFL quarterback may need to throw him open more often than not.
- Defenses will be happy if they force one-on-one deep looks to McMillan because he’s not overly powerful or dynamic at the catch point.
- Physicality throughout routes and as a blocker leaves room for improvement. He can get moved and disrupted while the ball is in the air.
- He possesses limited upside as a good role player but is not someone who will define an offensive unit.