Bucs scoop McMillan in 3rd round

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers selected Washington wide receiver Jalen McMillan in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft, No. 92 overall.

Tampa Bay acquired the No. 92 selection from the Lions in March as part of the trade that sent cornerback Carlton Davis to Detroit.

McMillan could immediately contribute to the Bucs' offense as the No. 3 wideout behind Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. If the former Huskies stud's transition to the NFL goes well, he could even become Godwin's future replacement in the slot. Both Evans and Godwin topped 1,000 receiving yards in 2023.

The Buccaneers' wide receiver room also features Trey Palmer, a 2023 sixth-rounder who recorded 385 yards and three touchdowns as a rookie.

Pre-draft profile

McMillan played an important role in Washington's passing attack in the slot, and there's a pathway for him to do the same in the pros. He's a really smart and aware route-runner who knows how to get space for himself by selling routes in order to create big plays. While he'll get open, McMillan probably won't consistently create a ton of yardage after the catch due to a lack of short-area agility. Though he's a great mismatch in the slot at 6-foot-1, whether he's strong enough to handle NFL coverage is a different topic. Either way, McMillan's trump card is his route running, which gives him an easy pathway to success.