KC Chiefs 2024 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Washington WR Jalen McMillan
The 2024 NFL Draft is right around the corner, and the Kansas City Chiefs are seeking yet another quality haul from general manager Brett Veach.
In recent seasons, Veach and his staff have used the draft to bring in cost-controlled young talents to insulate a championship roster. The results speak for themselves, although windows can close quickly. Kansas City hopes that a good 2024 rookie class joining one of football's younger teams can keep the franchise in top competitive form.
With the draft on the horizon, Arrowhead Report is taking a look at prospects who could hear their names called in late April. Up next is Washington wide receiver Jalen McMillan.
Background
- Height: 6010
- Weight: 197
- Age: 22
- Relative Athletic Score: 8.55
- 2023: 45 receptions, 559 yards and 5 touchdowns
- Played four seasons at Washington
Where McMillan creates advantages
McMillan is one of the better route runners in a loaded 2024 receiver class. He possesses an elite understanding of how to sell defenders and get the best of their leverage. His plus stop-start fluidity, as well as greased hip joints and respectable long speed, make him tough to cover. McMillan changes tempo and can fake out his assignment while using concise footwork and deliberate movements to get open. He's a good separator from the slot who has shown a couple of flashes elsewhere.
Going to get passes outside of his frame, an inconsistent trait, still isn't out of the question whatsoever for McMillan. He tracks the football well and maintains solid body control throughout the rep when adjusting. The Washington product can threaten the short and intermediate areas of the field quite well, with his vertical profile being what will determine his ceiling in the NFL.
Where McMillan could be at a disadvantage
McMillan's frame is decent, although his play strength isn't. That affects his ability to consistently win against physical coverage or fight for contested catches. Despite having a good release package and being a good athlete, he simply doesn't fare as well when defenders can press him. Whether he can survive on the boundary is a pivot skill that could impact his role early on. McMillan posted good explosion grades (37" vertical, 10'7" broad jump) during the pre-draft process, so the vertical athleticism to go above the rim exists. He just has to earn the targets on those reps.
As previously mentioned, beating defenses deep down the field could unlock the best version of McMillan. His opportunities in an otherwise stacked Washington offense weren't always present, as his role was more of a "possession" type receiver within 10, 15 or 20 yards of the line of scrimmage. McMillan ran a solid 4.47-second 40-yard dash and boasted tape where his speed seemed quite adequate, so that part of his game remains intriguing. His yards-after-catch chops were nice in college, although his post-reception fluidity didn't stay all that consistent.
The verdict
This year's wideout crop is a deep class that features just about everything. Elite athletes and ball-winners, prototypes for every receiver alignment, savvy route runners, young prospects and older ones alike all make up the group. It's a good year for a team to need a pass-catcher, especially in the first few rounds of the 2024 NFL Draft.
With McMillan, there's a ton to like even with him probably not being a first-round prospect. He's a very ideal connector-type piece at the next level who can keep an offense moving. His ability to get open and affect the game from the slot is exquisite, and there may be some untapped potential elsewhere as a "Z" receiver who can do some vertical things as well. Quarterbacks will love having McMillan in their offense.
Does that ring a bell for anyone? Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs could surely benefit from a player like McMillan entering the fold. With Rashee Rice and Marquise "Hollywood" Brown providing a nice one-two punch atop the wideout depth chart, a tertiary option at the position makes a ton of sense. McMillan's high football IQ and consistency in short and intermediate areas would help everyone else. The only hangup is role overlap with Brown and Rice, neither of whom are traditional "X" wideouts the team still needs. If Kansas City likes McMillan enough anyway, he'd be a very worthy pick somewhere on Day Two of the draft.
![Florida Gators wide receiver Ricky Pearsall (1) makes a one-handed catch for a first down during the first half against the Charlotte 49ers at Steve Spurrier Field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, FL on Saturday, September 23, 2023. [Matt Pendleton/Gainesville Sun]](https://www.si.com/.image/ar_16:9%2Cc_fill%2Ccs_srgb%2Cfl_progressive%2Cg_faces:center%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_640/MjA1MDgzNzc1MTY2NTg4NTQ4/usatsi_22097456.jpg)
