Wide receivers are projected to be in high demand between April 25 and April 27 during the 2024 NFL Draft. Teams aren’t just turning to the position for depth but also seeking a potential future No. 1 wideout for their offense.
Does Jalen McMillan fit the latter description? It’s time to take a closer look at the upcoming rookie from height to collegiate production to his NFL potential.
How Tall Is Jalen McMillan?
This class has its share of unicorn, towering options who check in at 6’6″. Then, there are diminutive but explosive wideouts who fall below 5’10”.
McMillan isn’t a skyscraper on the field. However, he’s not considered to be on the short side either as he stands at 6’1″ on the field.
That mark places McMillan in the 88th percentile for height in direct comparison to his WR peers.
How Much Does McMillan Weigh?
NFL teams have a mix of chiseled options in the 215 to 225-pound range to ones who move swiftly with their 195-pound frame.
At 192 pounds, McMillan is on the lean, streamlined athletic side. But that weight helps give him an advantage in stretching the field through his recorded 4.47-second time in the 40-yard dash.
How Old Is McMillan?
The average age of this year’s rookie class is 23 years old.
McMillan is close to that mark — entering the NFL as a 22-year-old.
The native of Fresno, Calif., won’t turn 23 until Dec. 7 when teams begin to make their push for the postseason.
What School Did McMillan Go To?
McMillan wore more than just receiver gloves; he put on baseball ones too as a decorated multi-sport athlete for San Joaquin Memorial High School in Fresno.
Oklahoma and USC tried to lure him in as a dual-sport athlete, courting him to their baseball diamond along with offering him in football. McMillan even juggled track and field and ran a 10.67-second time in the 100-meter dash as a junior.
But after racking up 260 receptions, 5,234 yards, and scoring 54 touchdowns in 50 career varsity games, football became the calling for McMillan, and he ultimately chose Washington.
MORE: Top WRs in the 2024 NFL Draft
McMillan headed to the Pacific Northwest as a four-star recruit and the state of California’s No. 5 overall recruit by 247Sports. Notable athletes ranked ahead of him included the future No. 1 and No. 2 picks of the 2023 NFL Draft, Bryce Young and C.J. Stroud.
McMillan also attended San Joaquin Memorial during a time Jalen Green was the nation’s No. 1 shooting guard recruit in basketball — the same Green who’s now one of the faces of the NBA’s Houston Rockets.
Revisiting McMillan’s College Career
McMillan played for two different offensive schemes at UW but was around three different head coaches.
He originally was recruited by Chris Petersen and his coaching staff as a part of the ’20 class, who ran a run-heavy/play-action approach. McMillan later watched Petersen resign, and Jimmy Lake was elevated to head coach for 2020. Lake, however, was fired during the 2021 season following a heated altercation with a player against Oregon.
McMillan, though, didn’t take long to get integrated into the offense created by Kalen DeBoer. With the former Fresno State head coach installing a more exotic, balanced attack that featured a lot of three-wide receiver personnel, McMillan blossomed into a 1,000-yard target by tallying 1,098 yards in 2022.
His 2023 production took a dip — settling for 45 catches for 559 yards in 11 games. However, he was in an offense that featured two more high-profile NFL-caliber WRs, Ja’Lynn Polk and Rome Odunze. And while he was sometimes overshadowed by his talented teammates, McMillan still wasn’t ignored.
McMillan’s Potential in the NFL
McMillan flirted with the 2023 NFL Draft, but he opted to return to the Huskies and experienced the run to the national title game.
That decision may have resulted in his low ’23 numbers, but Pro Football Network NFL Draft Analyst Ian Cummings doesn’t believe his limited receptions and yards hurt his draft stock.
“On my 2024 NFL Draft board, Jalen McMillan grades out as a top-100 prospect and a worthy selection in the mid-to-late Day 2 range. Though he doesn’t rate as highly as his teammates Rome Odunze and Ja’Lynn Polk, he’s still a potential NFL starter and a strong rotational WR,” Cummings said.
KEEP READING: Ian Cummings’ Full Scouting Report of Jalen McMillan
McMillan earned honorable mention status by PFN in the 2024 Top-10 WR rankings ahead of the NFL Draft. PFN Consensus projects he’ll land at No. 61 to the Detroit Lions. Nevertheless, McMillan is likely to be highly coveted before Round 4 of the draft with teams envisioning him providing a boost to their receiver unit.
Draft with your friends today! PFN’s Mock Draft Simulator now supports multiple drafters during the same draft! Ensure your player rankings are up to date on the 2024 NFL Draft Big Board and you know what every NFL team needs before drafting.