Coming into the 2023 season, Jalen McMillan was expected to be one of the most productive wide receivers in the country with the Washington Huskies, but a knee sprain limited the Preseason All-America Second Team honoree to just six full games after a hyperproductive start to the season.
The injury-riddled season caused his draft stock to drop all the way to the third round, where the Tampa Bay Buccaneers selected him with the No. 92 overall pick. General manager Jason Licht put McMillan into an ideal situation, where he can develop while learning from two of the best receivers in the NFL, Mike Evans and Chris Godwin.
According to McMillan, who has been very impressive early in training camp, including catching a game-winning touchdown during a scrimmage, 2023 left him hungry for more.
“My last college season I got hurt, I wasn’t able to play for most of that season and that left me hungry,” McMillan told members of the media. “I feel like I should’ve been drafted higher…I feel like I’m meant for this moment and I feel like this is big for me. The fact that I’m playing with Mike Evans and Chris Godwin…I’m blessed to be in this position.”
#Bucs rookie Jalen McMillan is off to a hot start in training camp and was probably under drafted. Huge addition to Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. “I’m hungry,” he says. pic.twitter.com/kraSpgRjpV
— Rick Stroud (@NFLSTROUD) July 25, 2024
McMillan has also earned a lot of praise from his new running mates.
“He’s a super polished rookie, smart,” Evans said. “Last night at the hotel before curfew, I come in and he’s in there with a couple of guys doing walkthrough for the plays today, I said ‘Man, this is a new offense for me, too, let me get some plays.’ So they’re keeping me motivated and keeping me sharp. So I look for [McMillan] to have a great year for us.”
As he continues to build chemistry with quarterback Baker Mayfield, McMillan could play his way into Tampa Bay’s starting lineup with a strong training camp.