TAMPA \u2014 Jalen McMillan said he learned during his rookie season not to worry about the future and just be where his feet are. Fortunately, over the final five games, they were planted firmly in the end zone \u2014 seven times. <\/p>\n
As a first-year pro, the 2024 third-round pick out of Washington established himself as the Bucs\u2019 No. 3 receiver behind Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. <\/p>\n
So it would have made sense had McMillan been less than geeked about the Bucs\u2019 decision to use their 2025 first-round pick on Ohio State receiver Emeka Egbuka.<\/p>\n
But McMillan said he really isn\u2019t concerned about where he will fall on the depth chart. <\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m just looking forward to making the most of my opportunities,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019m not really worried about any three, four, five, six spots. I\u2019m just worried about when the ball comes my way, make the play.\u201d<\/p>\n
McMillan said he first became aware of Egbuka when McMillan was attending Washington and Egbuka was playing in high school in the Seattle area.<\/p>\n
\u201cI heard about him through high school, seven on seven,\u201d McMillan said. \u201cI was trying to get him to commit to (Washington).\u201d<\/p>\n
Jalen McMillan catches a ball during a voluntary offseason workout Tuesday in Tampa. Despite the addition of 2025 first-round pick Emeka Egbuka, McMillan said he isn\u2019t worried about where he will fall on the depth chart in his second season with the Bucs. [\u00a0DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times\u00a0]<\/p>\n
His first impressions?<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s a pro,\u201d McMillan said. \u201cHe\u2019s really serious about practice and already knows damn near half the playbook. I\u2019m really excited for his growth and his future here.\u201d<\/p>\n
McMillan knows something about growth. He caught a touchdown pass from Baker Mayfield in last season\u2019s opener against Washington. But a hamstring injury kept him out of four games, first in Weeks 4-5, then in Weeks 9-10.<\/p>\n
By December, McMillan began to practice better, and it transferred to the games.<\/p>\n
\u201cI feel like last year I was more focused on how am I going to look in the future instead of worrying about what I wanted to accomplish in the moment,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd as you all can see, as I focused on the moment I did good things.\u201d<\/p>\n
Suddenly, McMillan was living in the end zone.<\/p>\n
It began with two touchdown receptions against the Raiders in Week 14. He followed that performance with at least one touchdown catch in each of the final four games, including two against the Panthers in Week 17.<\/p>\n
By any measure, McMillan had a successful rookie season and belongs in the conversation as one of the better pass catchers on the club. He finished with 37 receptions for 461 yards (a 12.5-yard average) and eight touchdowns. <\/p>\n
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Explore all your options<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve got a lot of talent,\u201d McMillan said. \u201cIt\u2019s just really us against us. Just being there for one another and just honing in on the talent that we possess and staying focused, really.\u201d<\/p>\n But McMillan got swallowed up a bit by expectations \u2014 his own. <\/p>\n He admits he was a little starstruck when he first got on the field with some of the NFL players he had previously only watched on TV.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s different for everybody, but for me it was going out there and seeing Bobby Wagner, the (Commanders) linebacker, and you\u2019re like, \u2018Damn, he\u2019s about to tackle me,\u2019\u201d McMillan said. \u201cIt\u2019s crazy, but now it\u2019s easy to see where I am.\u201d<\/p>\n One of the offseason goals for McMillan was to add strength, if not some size. Listed at 6-foot-1, 192 pounds, he was pushed around on some critical plays last season. He had a pass wrestled away from him in the end zone by the Cowboys\u2019 Jourdan Lewis, resulting in a touchback instead of a touchdown. <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not too sure about how much (weight) I\u2019ve gained,\u201d McMillan said. \u201cBut, I mean, I\u2019ve gotten stronger. I\u2019ve had, like, a 2 \u00bd-month offseason, so I feel confident in my strength, just going out there on the field and not being able to be pushed to the sideline.\u201d<\/p>\n McMillan finished his first season in select company. His streak of five consecutive games with a touchdown catch was the second-longest by a rookie in NFL history, trailing only Randy Moss (seven in 1998).<\/p>\n \u201cIt gave me a lot of confidence,\u201d McMillan said of his late-season TD run. \u201cIt also gave me a lot of confidence within myself, just going out on the field and feeling belonging.\u201d<\/p>\n \u2022 \u2022 \u2022<\/p>\n Sign up for our Sports Today newsletter<\/a> to get daily updates on the Bucs, Rays, Lightning and college football across Florida.<\/p>\n Every weekday, tune into our Sports Day Tampa Bay podcast<\/a> to hear reporter Rick Stroud break down the biggest stories in Tampa Bay sports.<\/p>\n Never miss out on the latest with your favorite Tampa Bay sports teams. Follow our coverage on X<\/a> and Facebook<\/a>.<\/p>\nJalen McMillan runs with the ball while participating in a drill during voluntary offseason workouts Tuesday in Tampa. He said he added some strength over the past few months. [\u00a0DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times\u00a0]<\/p>\n