The Tampa Bay Buccaneers won the NFC South Division last season and advanced to the NFC's Divisional Round before falling 31-23 to Dan Campbell's Detroit Lions in Motown.
The Buccaneers outgained the Lions 408 to 391 on the day but were just 4-for-12 on third down conversions, prompting Buccaneers General Manager Jason Licht to select ex-Washington Huskies wide receiver Jalen McMillan with the 92nd overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
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McMillan averaged four and five yards less per catch, respectively, than fellow NFL Draft picks Rome Odunze and Ja'lynn Polk last season.
He finished third on the Huskies in receiving yards and became more of a chain-mover than the big play threat he was the previous season for Coach Kalen DeBoer's team. He sacrificed his stats for the good of the team as the Huskies went undefeated in the regular season en route to the national championship game.
On Tuesday, Buccaneers Coach Todd Bowles doubled down on his previous training camp praise for McMillan after his team's road loss to the Jaguars during which McMillan caught just one pass for six yards.
"I've seen everything I need to see out of him," Bowles said about McMillan. "He's everything we thought he would be."
Now, he's been penciled in as the team's third starting receiver alongside legendary former Super Bowl Champions Mike Evans and Chris Godwin.
McMillan has gained the respect of Bucs QB Baker Mayfield in preparation for another run at an NFC South title.
"Jalen McMillan is a young stud and I think he's got a ton of potential," Mayfield said last month at a camp event for kids.
"For him to be able to step into a receiver room with guys like Mike (Evans) and Chris (Godwin), and even somebody like Sterling (Shepard), who has a lot of experience (is great for his development)," Mayfield intimated .
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