Jalen McMillan, WR Washington: 2024 NFL Draft Profile

McMillan was a four-star recruit from San Joaquin Memorial High School in Fresno, Calif. in the class of 2020

Washington wide receiver Jalen McMillan is missing some time with a lower body injury, but he opened the season with three games of 95 yards or more. McMillan projects as a fourth round selection in the 2024 NFL Draft.

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Jalen McMillan, WR Washington: 2024 NFL Draft Profile

Classification: Fourth-year junior slot receiver from Fresno, Calif.

Background: McMillan was a four-star recruit from San Joaquin Memorial High School in Fresno, Calif. in the class of 2020. He was the No. 67 recruit according to 247Sports, No. 84 for Rivals, and No. 64 for On3.com. ESPN ranked him 124th in the nation with an 84 grade out of 100. In high school, McMillan earned four varsity letters in football and two letters in baseball. He finished his career with 260 receptions for 5,234 yards and 54 touchdowns in 50 games. McMillan led San Joaquin Memorial to a 12-2 record and the CIF Division 1-A North Regional finals as a senior. He was a First Team All-State CalHiSports selection in 2019 when he amassed 89 receptions for 1,644 yards and 12 touchdowns. McMillan totaled 73 receptions for 1,401 yards and 19 touchdowns as a junior and 78 receptions for 1,810 yards and 21 touchdowns as a sophomore. He was CalHiSports.com's Sophomore of the Year. McMillan earned a spot in the 2020 All-American Bowl. He ran track & field at the Junior Olympic level before starting high school. As a junior, he made it to state preliminaries in the 100 and 200-meter dashes. A 10.67-second performance was his best mark in the 100-meter dash.

Injuries & Off-Field: Missed 2021 Montana game with a hand injury, missed two games to date with a lower body injury in 2023

Awards: 2022 Honorable Mention All-Pac-12, 2022 First Team All-Pac-12 (PFN), 2022 Second Team All-Pac-12 (PFF)

Pros: Some punt return experience, significant experience out wide and in the slot, linebackers and box safeties are agility mismatches in his favor, varies release timing and pacing, shoulder and head fakes, good acceleration out of his hesitation moves, sells defenders on hesitation moves, savvy and detailed route runner with terrific footwork, crisp routes, quick feet at the top of the stem, sharp cuts at the top of the stem on comebacks and out routes, sinks hips well, quick deceleration, quick to flip on comeback routes, widens the DB at the stem’s top before cutting back into the MOF on posts, stacked Michigan State corner (2022) for a big vertical play, beat bracket coverage vs. Boise State (2023), chains cuts mid-route to create space vs. zone, strong feel for holes in zone, quickly gets past the defense’s second level, excellent splitting the defense’s second and third levels, high points the football, downfield ball tracking, speed to pull away from linebackers for YAC, when the ball hits him in strides he can fly, willing blocker

Cons: Limited special teams experience, seven drops in 2022, lean build, arm length might be questionable, average athletic profile, burst off the line is disappointing at times, speed to separate vertically doesn’t always show up on tape, limited threat to off-coverage, bumped off routes by minimal contact, playing style won’t play well against press, limited mid-route wiggle to shake man cover corners, trouble navigating the crowded MOF, awareness of defenders in zone, runs his curl/dig route right into the linebacker, jumps for catches when not necessary, struggles to finish catches in crowded air space, not twitchy or highly dynamic with the ball in his hands, lacks the play strength to sustain blocks, knocked backward as a blocker by defenders

Overview: McMillan has some experience returning punts, but his total special teams experience is limited. He has significant experience lining up out wide and in the slot. McMillan is an athletic mismatch for safeties and linebackers who attempt to cover him in the slot. He varies his release timing and throws shoulder and head fakes mid-route to mislead defenders. The fourth-year receiver sells defenders on his hesitation moves before using his acceleration to fly past them. His game is defined by his crisp, detailed, and savvy route running. McMillan’s footwork and hip sink allow him to excel as a route runner. His feet are quick at the top of the stem, setting up sharp cuts on comebacks and out routes. He decelerates quickly and flips his hips back to the quarterback on comeback routes. McMillan widens the defensive back at the top of the stem before cutting back inside for post routes. He stacked a Michigan State (2022) corner for a big vertical shot and beat bracket coverage against Boise State (2023) but doesn’t display the burst and long speed to win vertically consistently. Despite his track background, McMillan appears to have an average athletic profile. This makes him a limited threat to off-man coverage or against talented press-man corners. The California native’s lean build, limited arm length, and play strength make him vulnerable to press coverage and limit his effectiveness in contested catch situations. He is bumped off his routes by minimal contact, which suggests he’s a better weapon against zone coverage. McMillan chains cuts mid-route to create space against zone defenders. He occasionally shows a strong feel for holes in zone. The former four-star recruit quickly gets past the defense’s second level and sits between the second and third levels. However, he struggles to navigate the middle of the field when it’s crowded. McMillan’s awareness of defenders in zone sometimes fails, leading to him running his curl or dig route right into the linebacker. He takes himself out of too many plays by running right into the defense’s strength. McMillan high points the football and is good at tracking the ball downfield, but he jumps for catches when it’s unnecessary and struggles to finish catches in crowded air space. He had seven drops in 2022. The All-Pac-12 honorable mention uses his speed to generate yards after the catch but isn’t powerful or dynamic with the ball in his hands. He’s a willing blocker, but his poor play strength leads to him being knocked backward by defenders.

Overall, McMillan is a precise and detailed route runner who generates separation with his footwork and veteran savvy. His high school track speed doesn’t translate to tape in an ideal manner, and he might be limited as a vertical threat in the NFL. McMillan projects best working against zone at the short to intermediate levels from a slot alignment where he’ll see free releases.

Role & Scheme Fit: Zone beating slot receiver at the short and intermediate levels

Round Projection: Mid to Late Fourth Round

Size: 6'1", 192 lbs. (Unofficial)

Submitted: 10-03-23