NFL Draft: Vikings Had Private Workout With Explosive Washington WR

Jalen McMillan is expected to be a middle-round draft pick this year.

Jan 8, 2024; Houston, TX, USA; Washington Huskies wide receiver Jalen McMillan (11) against the Michigan Wolverines during the 2024 College Football Playoff national championship game at NRG Stadium. / Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

The Vikings held a private workout with Washington wide receiver Jalen McMillan, according to NFL Network's Mike Garafolo. It's unclear if this was a separate workout or if McMillan was simply part of the Vikings' private workout with Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. in Seattle — either option is conceivable.

Wide receiver isn't one of the Vikings' most pressing needs in this year's draft — those would be quarterback, defensive tackle, cornerback, and left guard — but that doesn't mean they won't look to add another wideout at some point. After letting K.J. Osborn walk in free agency, the pass-happy Vikings could use another WR to complement Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison (and provide insurance in the unlikely event that Jefferson gets traded). Right now, the Vikings' WR3 options are Brandon Powell, Trent Sherfield, and Jalen Nailor.

McMillan finished a distant third in receiving yards on last year's Washington team, behind projected top-ten pick Rome Odunze and projected Day 2 pick Ja'Lynn Polk. But he did miss four games due to a left knee injury. In 2022, when all three players were healthy, McMillan led the Huskies in receptions and receiving touchdowns, finishing with just 47 fewer yards than Odunze. He's a 6'1" receiver who has 4.47 speed and explosive leaping ability, which is an intriguing skill set for a guy who played primarily in the slot for Washington.

Here's the scouting report from The Athletic's Dane Brugler:

"McMillan is a rangy pass catcher with first-step acceleration and sharp footwork to stair-step or deke coverage at the stem. I want to see him amplify his aggression when the ball is in the air, but he uses his length well to snare throws away from his frame. Overall, McMillan will need to prove he can handle the physicality of playing inside at the next level, but he has three-level potential as a pass catcher and will be an intriguing option for a team that prioritizes length and speed from the slot. Stylistically, his game reminds me of a juiced-up Jakobi Meyers."

McMillan would be an exciting option to step in and replace Osborn as the Vikings' WR3. However, they don't currently have any picks between 23 and 108, and McMillan will almost certainly go somewhere in that range. Minnesota would have to move around the board — which is always a possibility with Kwesi Adofo-Mensah at the helm — to be in range to take him. Maybe there's even a world where the Vikings select both Penix and McMillan next week.

It seems more likely that the Vikings will end up taking a wide receiver on Day 3 than grabbing someone like McMillan on Day 2, given their current stable of picks and their various needs.

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