Tag: Ja’Quan McMillian

Broncos CB Ja’Quan McMillian has stood out this summer

Broncos cornerback Ja’Quan McMillian has seemingly gone from roster bubble to roster lock this summer.

Denver Broncos second-year cornerback Ja’Quan McMillian has made the most of his opportunities this summer. After beginning training camp seemingly on the roster bubble, McMillian has since emerged as a top-four cornerback on the depth chart.

The 23-year-old defensive played 34 snaps against the Arizona Cardinals last week and he stood out.

McMillian recorded three tackles on defense — including a sack — and he was praised by special teams coordinator Ben Kotwica for recording two stops on kickoffs.

“That’s how players are going to get noticed — by giving them the opportunity to make a tackle,” Kotwica said on Aug. 16. “That’s why we’re putting the ball into play — again, within the parameters of the game — so that those players, like ‘J-Mac,’ can go out and display their skills. That was a positive play for us.”

NFL teams can begin drives at the 25-yard line this season if they field a kickoff with a fair catch. No teams utilized a fair catch in the first week of preseason, however, to give return and coverage teams reps before the regular season begins.

After stepping up on defense and standing out on special teams, McMillian seems to have gone from being a roster bubble player to now being considered a lock to make the 53-man roster.

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Broncos roster series: No. 35, CB Ja’Quan McMillian

Broncos cornerback Ja’Quan McMillian impressed in Week 18 last season. Now he’s carrying that positive momentum into 2023.

Broncos Wire’s 90-man offseason roster series continues today with a look at second-year cornerback Ja’Quan McMillian, No. 35. 

Before the Broncos: McMillian (5-10, 183 pounds) played at Eastern Carolina during his college days, starting 22 of 39 games as a Pirate. In 2021, McMillian had his best collegiate year, recording 56 total tackles and five interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown. He also broke up 11 passes and recovered two fumbles and forced one fumble. This productive year was rewarded with a semifinalist nomination for the Jim Thorpe Award, given annually to the top college defensive back.

Broncos tenure: McMillian saw only one game’s worth of action in 2022 for the Broncos, where he was first signed as an undrafted free agent. That game came against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 18. In his NFL debut, McMillian recorded seven tackles, six of them being solo tackles. McMillian also had an interception taken away by replay.

Chance to make the 53-man roster: The Broncos cornerback room is arguably one of the best in the NFL, but McMillian has a chance to make the team as a backup. His teammates sang his praises after his performance against the Chargers, and he looks ready to have an even bigger impact in Year 2.

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Broncos CB Ja’Quan McMillian impressed in his first NFL game

Broncos LB Josey Jewell said he expects “big things” from CB Ja’Quan McMillian next season.

With starting cornerback Damarri Mathis (concussion) inactive for their season finale, the Denver Broncos turned to an unexpected option against the Los Angeles Chargers.

Broncos defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero chose to start undrafted rookie Ja’Quan McMillian, who had spent the first 16 games of the season on the practice squad. Evero believed McMillian looked good enough in practice to jump all the way from the practice squad to the starting lineup — and he was right.

McMillian played all 68 snaps on defense, totaling seven tackles and a near-interception that was questionably ruled incomplete.

“It felt great,” McMillian said of making his NFL debut. “I was on the practice squad the whole year. I just kept working and kept learning from the older guys. I paid attention in meetings. I never veered away from what we were doing in the meeting room and on the field. I just stayed the course and it felt great to come out here and show what I can do.”

First start, first win: 31-28.

Broncos veteran safety Kareem Jackson said it was “unbelievable” how well McMillian played in his first action as a pro. Denver inside linebacker Josey Jewell Jewell echoed that and proclaimed a bright future for the cornerback.

“It’s awesome,” Jewell said. “He played really well today and should have had that pick — they want to review that one more time. It’s awesome to see those guys who haven’t been playing a bunch go out there and then kill it the first time. I expect big things from them next [season].”

Speaking of that near-interception, McMillian believes he secured it, and Broncos fans agree.

“I most definitely had it,” the young cornerback said. “It looked like I clearly had my hands under the ball, but it was ruled differently, and it is what it is. I have all next year to do it. I thought for sure I had it. I even thought I had the touchdown for a second, but they overturned it. It is what it is.”

The interception did not count, but McMillian’s fans and teammates came away impressed with the cornerback’s performance. He will now have momentum going into the 2023 campaign, his second season.

“It means everything,” McMillian said of ending the year on such a positive note. “It boosted my confidence even more going into the offseason. I am trying to get better, keep progressing and keep learning from the older guys and the coaches. I am just grateful for the opportunity.”

Denver might have found yet another gem for the secondary.

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Broncos injuries: 2 players placed on injured reserve

ICYMI: Broncos placed G Dalton Risner + RB Marlon Mack on IR and promoted CB Ja’Quan McMillian + OT Will Sherman from the practice squad.

The Denver Broncos’ list of injured players continues to grow.

The Broncos placed guard Dalton Risner (elbow) and running back Marlon Mack (hamstring) on injured reserve on Tuesday, the team announced. Risner and Mack will now sit out the team’s season finale against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday before hitting free agency in March.

Quinn Bailey and Luke Wattenberg will likely be the top candidates to fill in for Risner on Sunday. At running back, Tyler Badie now becomes the team’s third-choice option behind Latavius Murray and Chase Edmonds.

To fill the spots formerly held by Risner and Mack on the active roster, Denver promoted cornerback Ja’Quan McMillian and offensive tackle Will Sherman from the practice squad to the 53-man roster. That leaves the team with two open spots on the practice squad going into Week 18.

The Broncos’ complete Wednesday injury report can be seen below.

Denver will practice again on Thursday and Friday before releasing a final injury report with game statuses for Sunday.

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Broncos announce undrafted free agent signings: Meet the 13 players

The Broncos have signed 13 undrafted free agents. Learn more about each player here.

After selecting nine players in the 2022 NFL draft, the Denver Broncos then signed 13 college free agents to round out their roster for the summer.

The Broncos announced those 13 undrafted free agents on Thursday, officially confirming the signings. Here’s a quick look at each of the team’s new UDFAs.

Broncos signed 2 of the top undrafted free agents available

Christopher Allen and Ja’Quan McMillian were among the top UDFAs available, and the Broncos signed both of them.

After selecting nine players in the 2022 NFL draft, the Denver Broncos then signed 13 undrafted free agents. Two of those UDFAs stand out.

Touchdown Wire’s Doug Farrar and Draft Wire’s Luke Easterling both published lists of the top UDFAs available after the draft wrapped up on Saturday evening. Alabama pass rusher Christopher Allen, who signed with Denver, was on both of their lists.

Allen (6-3, 241 pounds) missed last season with a broken foot. Before that, he totaled 54 tackles (including 18.5 tackles for losses), 6.5 sacks, three forced fumbles and one fumble recovery from 2017-2020 (19 games). NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein predicted Allen would be a fourth-round pick, so landing him as an UDFA is a big get for the Broncos.

Easterling also included East Carolina cornerback Ja’Quan McMillian on his list of top UDFAs — he’s another player who signed with Denver.

McMillian (5-10, 183 pounds) was a playmaker for the Pirates, totaling 127 tackles, 28 pass breakups, 12 interceptions, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and one defensive touchdown in three years (33 games).

Denver has a great tradition of landing undrafted free agent gems who go on to make the roster — Allen and McMillian will aim to continue that trend this summer.

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Broncos undrafted free agent tracker: View the team’s UDFA signings

We are tracking all of the Broncos’ undrafted free agent signings on this page.

After selecting nine players in the 2022 NFL draft, the Denver Broncos have room for 10 undrafted free agents signings. We will be tracking all of the team’s UDFA moves on this page.

Fans should note that none of these signings are official until confirmed by the team. Sometimes players are invited to rookie minicamp on a tryout basis and mistakenly reported as UDFA signings. The official list from the team will arrive in the coming days.

Broncos undrafted free agent signings

1. East Carolina CB Ja’Quan McMillian (source)
2. Alabama LB Chris Allen (source)
3. Buffalo LB Kadofi Wright (source)
4. Minot State OL Sebastian Gutierrez (source)
5. App State WR Jalen Virgil (source)
6. NC State TE Dylan Parham (source)

Before the draft, Broncos general manager George Paton noted that this year’s UDFA class is deeper than usual because of COVID-19 extending college careers for many prospects.

“[The] free agent class will be a lot deeper,” Paton said last Friday. “Last year’s free agent class, I mean, we were done in about five minutes. … It just wasn’t as deep, so I expect there to be a deeper class in the later rounds and college free agency.”

Last year’s UDFA class included outside linebacker Andre Mintze, who is now a key special teams player for Denver.

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Denver Broncos pre-draft visit tracker

The list of prospects who have visited the Broncos ahead of the NFL draft includes OT Matt Waletzko, RB James Cook and OLB Nik Bonitto.
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Each offseason, NFL teams are allowed to host 30 non-local prospects at their facilities ahead of the NFL draft. We will be tracking the Denver Broncos’ top 30 visits on this page.

Broncos Pre-Draft Visits

1. RB Shermari Jones
2. RB James Cook
3. RB Isaih Pacheco
4. RB Zamir White
5. OT Tyler Smith
6. OT Abraham Lucus
7. OT Matt Waletzko
8. OT Braxton Jones
9. OL Cam Jurgens
10. OL Dylan Parham
11. OL Cole Strange
12. TE/FB Chigoziem Okonkwo
13. WR Tyquan Thornton
14. WR Jared Bernhardt
15. CB Cordale Flott
16. CB DaRon Bland
17. CB Ja’Quan McMillian
18. CB Martin Emerson
19. DB Nick Grant
20. DB Tariq Carpenter
21. OLB DeAngelo Malone
22. OLB Nik Bonitto

Non-Top 30 Visits

1. LB Chad Muma (local visit)
2. TE Cole Turner (virtual visit)
3. OL Thayer Munford (virtual visit)
4. OL Jamaree Salyer (virtual visit)
5. OLB Isaiah Thomas (virtual visit)
6. RB Hassan Haskins (virtual visit)
7. WR Mike Harley Jr. (Hula Bowl)
8. WR D’Eriq King (pro day)
9. K Cade York  (pro day)

The draft will be held in Las Vegas from April 28-30. The Broncos currently own nine selections, including a second-round pick and a pair of third-round picks.

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2022 Chiefs NFL draft prospects: Group 16

Our latest group of 2022 NFL draft prospects to watch for the #Chiefs:

Bowl season is in full swing, which means we’ve got some more prospects to watch in what could be their final games in college football. We’ve identified over 200 college prospects to keep an eye on ahead of the 2022 NFL draft, all of whom might be potential fits with the Kansas City Chiefs. I’ll be releasing my thoughts on many of the prospects in random groups of four on Saturdays throughout the college football season.

Our sixteenth group of prospects includes a productive linebacker, an underrated cornerback, an athletically-dominant offensive tackle and a shifty slot receiver.