Jalen McMillan only managed a single catch as a freshman but began to work his way into the receiver rotation as a sophomore when his 470 receiving yards led the Huskies, including the 415 yards by fellow second-year player Rome Odunze who is expected to become one of the first wideouts selected this year. McMillan is more likely to be a late Day 2 pick.
McMillan operated more as a slot receiver in college while Odunze and Ja’Lynn Polk handled the outside roles. McMillan peaked in 2022 with 1,098 yards and nine scores when quarterback Michael Penix Jr. took over. Odunze also saw a marked increase, heading the team with 1,145 yards.
As a senior, Penix blew up with 4,903 passing yards and 36 touchdowns, but those primarily went to Polk (69-1159-9) and Odunze (92-1640-13), while McMillan dropped to 45 catches for 559 yards and five scores. He was limited to only seven games due to a knee injury in Week 4.
All three wide receivers – Odunze, Polk, and McMillan declared for the NFL draft, along with quarterback Penix.
Height: 6-1
Weight: 197 pounds
40 time: 4.47 seconds
Table: Jalen McMillan NCAA stats (2020-23)
| Year | School | Games | Catch | Yards | Avg. | TD | Rush | Yards | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Washington | 3 | 1 | 16 | 16.0 | 0 | 2 | 14 | 0 |
| 2021 | Washington | 11 | 39 | 470 | 12.1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2022 | Washington | 13 | 79 | 1098 | 13.9 | 9 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| 2023 | Washington | 7 | 45 | 559 | 12.4 | 5 | 3 | 30 | 1 |
Pros
- Speed and burst are exceptional; nice fit into a vertical scheme
- Strong and reliable hands meet the ball away from the body and almost never drop the catch
- Polished route running with great speed control that adjusts to the pass, at his best with in-breaking routes
- Understands how to influence defenders and create separation
- Valuable deep threat thanks to his burst and top-end speed
- Agility and fluidity makes him dangerous when in the open
- Deadly receiver over the middle – gets open, catches in traffic and doesn’t let the ball get away from him
- Tough and dedicated with solid instincts
Cons
- Slender build and history poses durability concerns
- Lack of physical bulk and strength impacts yards-after-catch when inside congested areas
- Lacks elite balance and often tackled on first contact with defender
- Likely limited to the slot in the NFL
Fantasy outlook
McMillan does offer a lot to an NFL team, even if it falls short of elite difference-making. He had the benefit of playing at Washington with a great quarterback who also benefitted his two fellow Husky receivers, who are both projected to be selected ahead of McMillan.
He’ll almost certainly be a slot receiver in the NFL and with that no better than their No. 2 receiver, if not their No. 3. But he has a valuable role to play on any team, and likely going in the third round, will be available to any team looking for a technician that can run precise routes and help create holes where the quarterback is throwing.
That means he’ll likely fall short of reliable fantasy value as a rookie but could show up as a starter in the right situation. He won’t be the No. 1 guy for an NFL team or a difference-maker in fantasy football, but he has solid NFL value as a piece of a larger passing puzzle.