Bucs Draft WR Jalen McMillan To Round Out Day 2

With their third and final pick on Day 2 of the 2024 NFL Draft, the Bucs took a step toward building their receiving corps for both this year and the future. Tampa Bay’s spent its second third-round pick – No. 92 overall – on Washington wide receiver Jalen McMillan.

Washington WR Jalen McMillan – Photo by: USA Today

After redshirting in 2020, McMillan flashed potential in 2021 as he caught 39 passes for 470 yards (12.1 avg.) and three touchdowns. He went on to break out in 2022, catching 79 passes for 1,098 yards (13.9 avg.) and nine touchdowns.

His 2023 season was hampered by a knee injury (he missed four games), but he still managed 45 catches for 553 yards (12.3 avg.) and five touchdowns as Washington went on to the College Football Playoff Final.

His production for the Huskies was at its best in 2022, but he was still a playmaker last season for an offense that had a top-10 pick in Rome Odunze and a second-rounder in Ja’Lynn Polk.

The 6-foot-1, 203-pound McMillan is a smooth, natural receiver who has a good feel for his routes and possesses 4.47 speed. He has a whole lot of experience operating out of the slot, playing 459 snaps in the slot in 2022 before spending another 231 snaps there in 2023.

With as many snaps as McMillan has played in the slot, it’ll be interesting to see how new Bucs offensive coordinator Liam Coen goes about using him. The third-round pick will presumably be Tampa Bay’s new No. 3 wide receiver, but Coen previously spoke about wanting to use Chris Godwin out of the slot more in 2024 than former offensive coordinator Dave Canales did in 2023. Whether that remains the plan after the addition of the former Washington receiver will be an interesting plot point to follow as the Bucs get back together for their offseason workouts and eventually training camp.

Bucs Go Back To The Washington Pipeline To Draft Jalen McMillan

Washington WR Jalen McMillan – Photo by: USA Today

It’s no secret that the Bucs love drafting players from the University of Washington, as they did so again on Friday night with the selection of Jalen McMillan. Tampa Bay drafted Washington defensive tackle Vita Vea in 2018, then picked Washington edge rusher Joe Tryon-Shoyinka in 2021.

The team’s affinity for former Huskies players continued in 2022 with the addition of tight end Cade Otton. The team also signed former Washington defensive lineman Greg Gaines last offseason, then re-signed him this offseason.

“I think some of it is coincidence and I think some of it is, if you talk about Washington, that’s a great program,” assistant general manager John Spytek said after the Bucs drafted Otton in 2022. “Those kids come out of there well trained, they’re good people, they’re our kind of people.”

McMillan and Otton briefly overlapped at Washington, and the new Bucs wide receiver told the local media Friday night that he’s excited to link up with his fellow Huskies in Tampa.

“I played with Cade for a little bit,” McMillan said. “Me and him were cool. I learned from him when it came to catching because he always caught with no gloves. So just watching that was kind of inspiring. I knew Joe, but Joe was a year before me. I’m pretty sure we’ll connect when I get to Tampa. Obviously, I can’t wait to be with those guys and can’t wait to learn from Cade, obviously. Tampa, a physical team and they love to throw the ball. So I’m just excited to get there and be a pass-catcher.”

McMillan joins a wide receiver room that includes Bucs legend and future Hall of Famer Mike Evans, as well as another 1,000-yard receiver in Chris Godwin. The former Washington star will likely slot in as the team’s WR3, then 2023 sixth-round pick Trey Palmer, Deven Thompkins and Rakim Jarrett will presumably round out the depth in the room unless the team adds another receiver on Day 3 of the draft.

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