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WR Jalen McMillan, TB (1 Viewer)

Grahamburn

Grahamburn

Footballguy
www.pff.com

“I’m really him”: Jalen McMillan on becoming one of the best wide receivers in college football

In an exclusive interview with PFF's Max Chadwick, Washington wide receiver Jalen McMillan discusses how he's become one of the best wide receivers in college football.
www.pff.com www.pff.com

Feel like this kid could have gone a lot higher in the draft if he hadn’t sprained his MCL in week 3. Already had over 300 yards and 3 TDs in those 3 weeks.

More receptions and TDs than Odunze in 2022 and right there in yards.

Smooth route runner and ideal slot type player in the NFL. May have to wait a year because Godwin is expected to play the slot this year, but his contract is up after 2024.
 
@PewterReport
#Bucs WR coach Bryan McClendon says that he likes Jalen McMillan’s flexibility to play on the outside and in the slot. He feels fortunate that he fell to Tampa Bay in the third round.
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#Bucs OC Liam Coen says that Jalen McMillan is a pure route-runner and has a competitive nature which allowed him to contribute with the Huskies and carries that over to Tampa Bay.
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Scott Smith
Bucs WRs Coach Bryan McClendon says what he likes most about rookie WR Jalen McMillan is his positional flexibility. Says McMillan can play the X, Z and F. McClendon thinks McMillan wouldn’t have lasted to the third round of the draft if he hadn’t gotten nicked up last year.
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If tight end Cade Otton was the offensive player of the day on Tuesday, it’s pretty safe to say that rookie wide receiver Jalen McMillan was the offense’s star during Wednesday’s practice.

He and Baker Mayfield have already begun to develop a strong connection, as evidenced by the first play of the Bucs’ 11-on-11 period. McMillan, Tampa Bay’s third-round pick this year, got open near the left sideline and Mayfield threaded a perfect throw to him for a nice chunk of yardage.

McMillan went on to make three or four more catches throughout the rest of practice, and he drew praise from Mayfield when the quarterback spoke with the media after practice.

“He’s really friendly at the top of his routes, attacks the ball, catches with his hands. Just explosive, a smooth route runner,” Mayfield said of McMillan. “So just now, having him put it all together in the offense, get all these alerts, these cans and playing fast – I think for him, really the next step is mastering the offense so he can use that physical talent that he has.”
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-Pewter Report
 
@JennaLaineESPN
Rookie receiver Jalen McMillan, who caught a red zone touchdown from Baker Mayfield yesterday, caught three passes on three targets today from Mayfield. One of the plays he along the right sideline and he kept running so Antoine Winfield kept running with him. Love to see it.
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Grahamburn said:
www.pff.com

“I’m really him”: Jalen McMillan on becoming one of the best wide receivers in college football

In an exclusive interview with PFF's Max Chadwick, Washington wide receiver Jalen McMillan discusses how he's become one of the best wide receivers in college football.
www.pff.com www.pff.com

Feel like this kid could have gone a lot higher in the draft if he hadn’t sprained his MCL in week 3. Already had over 300 yards and 3 TDs in those 3 weeks.

More receptions and TDs than Odunze in 2022 and right there in yards.

Smooth route runner and ideal slot type player in the NFL. May have to wait a year because Godwin is expected to play the slot this year, but his contract is up after 2024.
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I have him ranked with Ladd, he’s under the radar for sure.

Tex
 
@32BeatWriters
“McMillan may even have a chance to overtake Palmer for the WR3 role, though Palmer is having a good offseason himself. In either case, the rookie looks like he’ll help the Bucs from day one, whether he’s WR3 or WR4.

As many plays as McMillan made over his first collection of practices as an NFL receiver, it was his intelligence that stood out to his head coach the most.”
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Faust said:
@32BeatWriters
“McMillan may even have a chance to overtake Palmer for the WR3 role, though Palmer is having a good offseason himself. In either case, the rookie looks like he’ll help the Bucs from day one, whether he’s WR3 or WR4.

As many plays as McMillan made over his first collection of practices as an NFL receiver, it was his intelligence that stood out to his head coach the most.”
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I was bummed to see him land with Tampa. I had some hopes for Palmer and I think it’s a crowded situation now with 4 quality WRs. NFL-wise it’s a really nice group that all complement each other well.
 
@32BeatWriters
“Although McMillan doesn’t have the speed that Palmer does, he will bring a more diverse set of skills to the Bucs’ receiver room. He is a masterful route-runner with good hands, and a knack for settling into open spaces against zone defenses. The biggest factor working against McMillan is that he is generally viewed as a ‘slot only’ receiver. “
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Ilov80s said:
Faust said:
@32BeatWriters
“McMillan may even have a chance to overtake Palmer for the WR3 role, though Palmer is having a good offseason himself. In either case, the rookie looks like he’ll help the Bucs from day one, whether he’s WR3 or WR4.

As many plays as McMillan made over his first collection of practices as an NFL receiver, it was his intelligence that stood out to his head coach the most.”
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I was bummed to see him land with Tampa. I had some hopes for Palmer and I think it’s a crowded situation now with 4 quality WRs. NFL-wise it’s a really nice group that all complement each other well.
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Godwin is a free agent after this season and Evans is likely done after 2025. Palmer and McMillan could very well be a big part of the future.
 
menobrown said:
I wonder if he's going to impact the plans to play Godwin more out of the slot this year.
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That's something to monitor in training camp, but I don't think so. Godwin is set to be a beast this season taking the majority of his snaps from the slot. Coen's offense is expected to be much more 3 WR sets than Canales' was, so it is definitely important which player out of Palmer/McMillan wins that WR3 role.

I see what you're saying though in that if McMillan really is that good he'll force his way onto the field and he was primarily a slot player at Washington.

Greg Auman is pretty dialed in:

https://www.4for4.com/news/buccaneers-wr-chris-godwin-see-increased-usage-out-slot
 
Grahamburn said:
menobrown said:
I wonder if he's going to impact the plans to play Godwin more out of the slot this year.
Click to expand...
That's something to monitor in training camp, but I don't think so. Godwin is set to be a beast this season taking the majority of his snaps from the slot. Coen's offense is expected to be much more 3 WR sets than Canales' was, so it is definitely important which player out of Palmer/McMillan wins that WR3 role.

I see what you're saying though in that if McMillan really is that good he'll force his way onto the field and he was primarily a slot player at Washington.

Greg Auman is pretty dialed in:

https://www.4for4.com/news/buccaneers-wr-chris-godwin-see-increased-usage-out-slot
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I actually corresponded with Auman on this yesterday.

He seemed a little dismissive that a rookie would "bump" Godwin outside. I don't view it as bumping Godwin so much as the most effective way to get McMillan on the field, if that's what they want to do.

Interestingly enough I checked how much Kupp was aligned per snap out of the slot in his one year with Cohen and it was just about 43%, lower then I expected.

My guess is the plan will start off as Palmer and McMillan in more or less of a rotation and whoever is in the game when they go with 3 WR's will impact if Godwin is in the slot or outside. This likely won't have much impact on him playing the "Kupp" role because Kupp as we see was far from an everydown slot player. It could however impact it if McMillan just becomes someone they don't want to take off the field.
 
Seems like typical rookie usage to me.
Ignore the shine of this year's rookie class and re-look at this and it's ordinary.
Maybe next year, maybe he gets enough opportunity due to an injury
 
Rookie wide receiver Jalen McMillan looks like the second coming of Chris Godwin. Smooth, sudden, clutch hands and a precise route-runner. With Trey Palmer struggling with catching a few passes against air in the individual period on Thursday, McMillan’s consistency and knack for making plays has him in the driver’s seat for the No. 3 receiver role.
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Tampa Bay Buccaneers WR Jalen McMillan 'runs so smooth' and 'does some things at the top of his routes ... that veterans do,' according to QB Baker Mayfield.'What people don't realize, he was (the University of Washington's) leading guy in 2022 before he got hurt. And so, for him to get back to true form - he's a stud. 'He's a guy that runs so smooth. He does some things at the top of his routes -- he's so friendly to the ball -- that veterans do,' Mayfield told reporters on Tuesday, July 30.
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The Coachspeak Index
#Bucs HC Todd Bowles is one of the most blunt coaches in the NFL

it’s a very big deal that he keeps talking up Jalen McMillan
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#Bucs HC Todd Bowles on Jalen McMillan:

“We know he has outstanding hands and competitiveness and we know he can play all three spots… We’re really high on him. He’s very smart, he’s very competitive, and he has a motor that doesn’t stop, so that’s only gonna help us.”
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#Bucs HC Todd Bowles on Jalen McMillan:

“He had a lot of versatility in college. He played slot, he played Z, he played X, so he’s a very intelligent player, so that gives us some advantages.”

This is very bullish for McMillan. Bowles classifies non-Evans/Godwin receivers as being behind McMillan, and with Chris Godwin in line to see a huge spike in slot snaps, McMillan’s ability to play on the outside is huge for the Bucs offense.
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Pete Prisco
Watching the Bucs and talking to players, it’s clear rookie Jalen McMillan will be special. He runs great routes. I loved his tape — he was on my Better-Than team — but he is even more impressive than I expected this early. Bucs killed the draft.
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@32BeatWriters
“Jalen McMillan got the nod as the starting receiver opposite Chris Godwin, and it did not take him very long to make an impact. On the Bucs’ first drive of the game McMillan made a highlight-reel catch along the right sideline for 28 yards down to the Dolphins four-yard line. McMillan displayed fantastic ball tracking, body control and hands to make the grab and stay in bounds while dealing with solid coverage and a closing safety to boot”
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Compare him to Trey Palmer of last year for me please.
He was doing well in camp and some similar statements were made
 
Bri said:
Compare him to Trey Palmer of last year for me please.
He was doing well in camp and some similar statements were made
Click to expand...
Well for starters there is the draft capital involved - Palmer was a 6th rd pick last year and McMillan a 3rd this - so more should be expected of him from that alone. I like Palmer and, all things considered, think he had a solid rookie season of 40 catches and didn’t he score a TD in the playoff game vs the Eagles as well? That said, I love what McMillan has shown so far and am bummed I don’t have any shares on my dynasty squads and that I wasn’t able to get him late in my FBG best ball draft yesterday. He’s already secured the #3 spot and I think he’ll have productive fantasy weeks even with Evans and Godwin ahead of him in the pecking order. Supposedly they are comfortable enough with him being on the outside that it will allow Godwin to mainly operate from the slot? I don’t know how often TB runs 3 wide sets but I assume he’ll see a good amount of time on the field and should have some favorable matchups. To me he looks smooth out there and like he belongs among other pros.

@Grahamburn and other Buccos will have better insight than me of course but McMillan is a player that I’ve been keeping an eye on this preseason.
 
farfromforgotten said:
Bri said:
Compare him to Trey Palmer of last year for me please.
He was doing well in camp and some similar statements were made
Click to expand...
Well for starters there is the draft capital involved - Palmer was a 6th rd pick last year and McMillan a 3rd this - so more should be expected of him from that alone. I like Palmer and, all things considered, think he had a solid rookie season of 40 catches and didn’t he score a TD in the playoff game vs the Eagles as well? That said, I love what McMillan has shown so far and am bummed I don’t have any shares on my dynasty squads and that I wasn’t able to get him late in my FBG best ball draft yesterday. He’s already secured the #3 spot and I think he’ll have productive fantasy weeks even with Evans and Godwin ahead of him in the pecking order. Supposedly they are comfortable enough with him being on the outside that it will allow Godwin to mainly operate from the slot? I don’t know how often TB runs 3 wide sets but I assume he’ll see a good amount of time on the field and should have some favorable matchups. To me he looks smooth out there and like he belongs among other pros.

@Grahamburn and other Buccos will have better insight than me of course but McMillan is a player that I’ve been keeping an eye on this preseason.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the reply

Besides the three spot-
Godwin and Evans are very different types. I was under the impression McMillan was Evans backup and Palmer was Godwin's and that fit for me. Is that not accurate?
 
Bri said:
farfromforgotten said:
Bri said:
Compare him to Trey Palmer of last year for me please.
He was doing well in camp and some similar statements were made
Click to expand...
Well for starters there is the draft capital involved - Palmer was a 6th rd pick last year and McMillan a 3rd this - so more should be expected of him from that alone. I like Palmer and, all things considered, think he had a solid rookie season of 40 catches and didn’t he score a TD in the playoff game vs the Eagles as well? That said, I love what McMillan has shown so far and am bummed I don’t have any shares on my dynasty squads and that I wasn’t able to get him late in my FBG best ball draft yesterday. He’s already secured the #3 spot and I think he’ll have productive fantasy weeks even with Evans and Godwin ahead of him in the pecking order. Supposedly they are comfortable enough with him being on the outside that it will allow Godwin to mainly operate from the slot? I don’t know how often TB runs 3 wide sets but I assume he’ll see a good amount of time on the field and should have some favorable matchups. To me he looks smooth out there and like he belongs among other pros.

@Grahamburn and other Buccos will have better insight than me of course but McMillan is a player that I’ve been keeping an eye on this preseason.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the reply

Besides the three spot-
Godwin and Evans are very different types. I was under the impression McMillan was Evans backup and Palmer was Godwin's and that fit for me. Is that not accurate?
Click to expand...
The biggest difference is the change in offense. Coen is going to use a lot more 3 WR sets than Canales did. Godwin is moving more inside to the slot whereas last year he played outside.

McMillan winning the WR3 job this year means he’s basically a starter and will be on the field much more often than Palmer was.
 
farfromforgotten said:
Bri said:
Compare him to Trey Palmer of last year for me please.
He was doing well in camp and some similar statements were made
Click to expand...
Well for starters there is the draft capital involved - Palmer was a 6th rd pick last year and McMillan a 3rd this - so more should be expected of him from that alone. I like Palmer and, all things considered, think he had a solid rookie season of 40 catches and didn’t he score a TD in the playoff game vs the Eagles as well? That said, I love what McMillan has shown so far and am bummed I don’t have any shares on my dynasty squads and that I wasn’t able to get him late in my FBG best ball draft yesterday. He’s already secured the #3 spot and I think he’ll have productive fantasy weeks even with Evans and Godwin ahead of him in the pecking order. Supposedly they are comfortable enough with him being on the outside that it will allow Godwin to mainly operate from the slot? I don’t know how often TB runs 3 wide sets but I assume he’ll see a good amount of time on the field and should have some favorable matchups. To me he looks smooth out there and like he belongs among other pros.

@Grahamburn and other Buccos will have better insight than me of course but McMillan is a player that I’ve been keeping an eye on this preseason.
Click to expand...
They’re running a different offense this year under new OC Liam Coen, who runs a base 11 formation (3 WR, 1 TE). McMillan is starting on the outside with Evans, with Godwin in the slot.

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Prior to his knee injury in 2023, McMillan was functioning as the 1B to Odunze’s 1A in the Huskies offense. McMillan was actually their leading receiver in 2022 and through the third game of 2023 until he got injured against Michigan State. Polk stepped up in his place and had a breakout season of his own in the process. It was interesting to note that as soon as McMillan returned, he was back to being the 1B, even leading them in receiving in the Pac-12 title game against Oregon.

McMillan was one of the highest ranked WRs of his recruiting class (link), higher than Odunze (link) and Polk (link) were in theirs actually. I didn’t find that out until recently when I did more digging into my rookie draft prep.

Interesting to note that Godwin is a free agent after this season and the Bucs have yet to sign him to another extension. It looks and feels like McMillan is his successor. Evans and Godwin will still lead this receiving room, but I expect McMillan to flash quite a bit, and eventually take Godwin’s spot in 2025. I’m convinced McMillan is a stud and as long as he remains healthy he may become a household name in the NFL in the future.
 
Grahamburn said:
Bri said:
farfromforgotten said:
Bri said:
Compare him to Trey Palmer of last year for me please.
He was doing well in camp and some similar statements were made
Click to expand...
Well for starters there is the draft capital involved - Palmer was a 6th rd pick last year and McMillan a 3rd this - so more should be expected of him from that alone. I like Palmer and, all things considered, think he had a solid rookie season of 40 catches and didn’t he score a TD in the playoff game vs the Eagles as well? That said, I love what McMillan has shown so far and am bummed I don’t have any shares on my dynasty squads and that I wasn’t able to get him late in my FBG best ball draft yesterday. He’s already secured the #3 spot and I think he’ll have productive fantasy weeks even with Evans and Godwin ahead of him in the pecking order. Supposedly they are comfortable enough with him being on the outside that it will allow Godwin to mainly operate from the slot? I don’t know how often TB runs 3 wide sets but I assume he’ll see a good amount of time on the field and should have some favorable matchups. To me he looks smooth out there and like he belongs among other pros.

@Grahamburn and other Buccos will have better insight than me of course but McMillan is a player that I’ve been keeping an eye on this preseason.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the reply

Besides the three spot-
Godwin and Evans are very different types. I was under the impression McMillan was Evans backup and Palmer was Godwin's and that fit for me. Is that not accurate?
Click to expand...
The biggest difference is the change in offense. Coen is going to use a lot more 3 WR sets than Canales did. Godwin is moving more inside to the slot whereas last year he played outside.

McMillan winning the WR3 job this year means he’s basically a starter and will be on the field much more often than Palmer was.
Click to expand...
Ok but there's a lot of questionable wording I'm dealing with too around the web.
Godwin has primarily played in the slot the last few years, but last year was just 32 percent in the slot.
Let's talk inverse though. He's averaged just over 50 percent in the slot and I don't like the word "primarily" for the difference between 52 and 48 percent. That's half slot half outside to me.
"McMillan has the WR3 role and is the starting outside WR with Godwin shifting back inside" also has some shine. Godwin is in the Kupp role, right? Who is the Rams 3rd/outside WR everyone loves in FF? DeMarcus Robinson?

So can you help me with what are you projecting? Kupp #s for Godwin? 2022 #s? And is DeMarcus Robinson fair for McMillan then?

Trey Palmer is backing up the slot right? Why is he an afterthought and not Puka?

Thanks for bearing with me through this
 
Bri said:
Grahamburn said:
Bri said:
farfromforgotten said:
Bri said:
Compare him to Trey Palmer of last year for me please.
He was doing well in camp and some similar statements were made
Click to expand...
Well for starters there is the draft capital involved - Palmer was a 6th rd pick last year and McMillan a 3rd this - so more should be expected of him from that alone. I like Palmer and, all things considered, think he had a solid rookie season of 40 catches and didn’t he score a TD in the playoff game vs the Eagles as well? That said, I love what McMillan has shown so far and am bummed I don’t have any shares on my dynasty squads and that I wasn’t able to get him late in my FBG best ball draft yesterday. He’s already secured the #3 spot and I think he’ll have productive fantasy weeks even with Evans and Godwin ahead of him in the pecking order. Supposedly they are comfortable enough with him being on the outside that it will allow Godwin to mainly operate from the slot? I don’t know how often TB runs 3 wide sets but I assume he’ll see a good amount of time on the field and should have some favorable matchups. To me he looks smooth out there and like he belongs among other pros.

@Grahamburn and other Buccos will have better insight than me of course but McMillan is a player that I’ve been keeping an eye on this preseason.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the reply

Besides the three spot-
Godwin and Evans are very different types. I was under the impression McMillan was Evans backup and Palmer was Godwin's and that fit for me. Is that not accurate?
Click to expand...
The biggest difference is the change in offense. Coen is going to use a lot more 3 WR sets than Canales did. Godwin is moving more inside to the slot whereas last year he played outside.

McMillan winning the WR3 job this year means he’s basically a starter and will be on the field much more often than Palmer was.
Click to expand...
Ok but there's a lot of questionable wording I'm dealing with too around the web.
Godwin has primarily played in the slot the last few years, but last year was just 32 percent in the slot.
Let's talk inverse though. He's averaged just over 50 percent in the slot and I don't like the word "primarily" for the difference between 52 and 48 percent. That's half slot half outside to me.
"McMillan has the WR3 role and is the starting outside WR with Godwin shifting back inside" also has some shine. Godwin is in the Kupp role, right? Who is the Rams 3rd/outside WR everyone loves in FF? DeMarcus Robinson?

So can you help me with what are you projecting? Kupp #s for Godwin? 2022 #s? And is DeMarcus Robinson fair for McMillan then?

Trey Palmer is backing up the slot right? Why is he an afterthought and not Puka?

Thanks for bearing with me through this
Click to expand...
I’ll do my best.

I’d expect an uptick from Baker’s 4,000 last year. The play calling is going to be better. Running game improved. Extended drives. Better efficiency.

The Rams had 4,300 yards passing/receiving in 2023. Could be better than that, but we’ll be conservative. Nice round numbered guesses:

Godwin 1,300
Evans 1,200
White 600
McMillan 500
Otton 400
Others 300
 
  • Thanks
Reactions: Bri
Jacob Gibbs
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Round 3 rookie WR Jalen McMillan only has run 16 preseason routes but has put up elite per-route data to follow up a steady drumbeat of training camp praise.

- 37.5% target per route run rate
- 3.56 yards per route run

Smooth operator.
Click to expand...

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May be sink or swim time for the rookie now that Godwin is out for the year and Evans nursing a hammy. Liked McMillan a lot in college and he looked great in preseason. Just hasn't been performing well in the regular season.

It's worth noting that Palmer was the one who came in when Evans went down, and McMillan alternated with Shepard. PFF has a more in-depth breakdown here:

www.pff.com

NFL Week 7 Recap: Immediate fantasy football takeaways from Monday's games

PFF's fantasy football recap focuses on player usage and stats, breaking down all the vital information you need to achieve fantasy success in 2024.
www.pff.com www.pff.com

I like McMillan most of the remaining WR's talent-wise but it could be a messy situation in the short term. McMillan got the targets which is encouraging.
 
Lansdowne said:
May be sink or swim time for the rookie now that Godwin is out for the year and Evans nursing a hammy. Liked McMillan a lot in college and he looked great in preseason. Just hasn't been performing well in the regular season.

It's worth noting that Palmer was the one who came in when Evans went down, and McMillan alternated with Shepard. PFF has a more in-depth breakdown here:

www.pff.com

NFL Week 7 Recap: Immediate fantasy football takeaways from Monday's games

PFF's fantasy football recap focuses on player usage and stats, breaking down all the vital information you need to achieve fantasy success in 2024.
www.pff.com www.pff.com

I like McMillan most of the remaining WR's talent-wise but it could be a messy situation in the short term. McMillan got the targets which is encouraging.
Click to expand...
Is the Z receiver considered the slot receiver?
 
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