Buccaneers rookie Jalen McMillan is ‘legit’; third-round WR has Baker Mayfield hyped

There has been some hype surrounding Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2024 NFL Draft third-round pick Jalen McMilan early in training camp, which has quarterback Baker Mayfield gleaming with excitement over his new rookie target.

The University of Washington product entered the draft as one of a trio of wide receivers from the school who were highly touted catching the ball from Michael Penix Jr.  Top receiver Rome Odunze went early in the draft at No. 9 to the Chicago Bears, while the No 2 receiver in the Huskies offense, Ja’Lynn Polk, went early in the second round to the New England Patriots.  Both players have made their waves on their drafted teams.  Add McMillan to the mix.

Coming off a final season at Washington in which he caught 45 passes for 559 yards and 5 TDs, McMillan does have some room to grow as a receiver and could flourish when given more of an opportunity.  That’s why he was picked as a rookie that will turn heads in the NFC South in an earlier article by NFL Mocks.  He also gets to learn behind veterans like Mike Evans and Chris Godwin and catch the ball from a rejuvenated and excited Mayfield.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers drafted a gem in Jalen McMillan

Already labeling him as a “stud”, Mayfield’s expressed his impression of the first-year receiver during an appearance on NFL Network’s Inside Training Camp Live.

“You’re watching [Ja’Lynn] Polk, you’re watching [Rome] Odunze,” Mayfield told NFL Network Insider’s Mike Garafolo, Sara Walsh and Brian Baldinger, via NFL.com.  “What people don’t realize, he was their leading guy in ’22 before he got hurt.  And so, for him to get back to true form – he’s a stud.”

In that 2022 season with the Huskies, it was McMillan, not Odunze or Polk, who led the team in receptions and touchdowns.  His size (6-foot-1, 197 pounds) along with his ability to make defenders miss makes him an ideal slot receiver for Mayfield, who is already seeing that ability early in camp.

“He’s a guy that runs so smooth,” Mayfield continued.  “He does some things at the top of his routes – he’s so friendly to the ball -- that veterans do.”

The Buccaneers’ offense did surprise a year ago with Mayfield under center.  Much of the reason was the chemistry between the Bucs quarterback and Evans who continue to showcase his top receiver status even on the other side of 30.  With a healthy Godwin and a player in McMillan who is trending up, there is no reason Tampa Bay won’t be back in the playoffs in 2024.

But it’s not all about 2024 when it comes to McMillan.  The Buccaneers may have a playmaker of the future who will make an impact immediately in the NFL.  So far so good for this exciting NFL rookie.