The Tampa Bay Buccaneers surprised everyone — including a bunch of people on their own roster — when they selected Ohio State wide receiver Emeka Egbuka in the first round of the 2025 NFL draft.
That means the Buccaneers have too many wide receivers and not enough balls to go around, meaning someone is going to end up being the odd man out.
The investment in Egbuka is enough that should mean exploring a trade for second year wide receiver Jalen McMillan, who looked like an elite option at the end of 2024 and could garner an equivalent draft pick back in return to what the Buccaneers spent on him, if not more than that.
There are 2 teams in the NFC West in desperate need of wide receivers right now with the San Francisco 49ers and Arizona Cardinals. Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht could simply see who makes the better offer between the 2 teams and send McMillan packing.
“The Cardinals enter the 2025 season as a sneaky team that could surprise some people,” Bleacher Report’s Matt Holder wrote on July 16. “However, the offense could afford to add some depth at wide receiver behind Marvin Harrison Jr. … The 49ers are in an interesting spot with their wide receivers. Brandon Aiyuk will start training camp on the PUP list and may not be ready for Week 1, while Jauan Jennings recently gave the club an ultimatum for a new contract or a trade.”
McMillan Ended 2024 On Absolute Heater
Over the last 5 games of the 2024 regular season, McMillan was one of the very best in the NFL at his position — not just for rookies.
As Tampa Bay went 4-1 in that stretch to clinch an improbable playoff berth, McMillan scored 7 touchdowns in the last 5 games. That included at least 1 touchdown in all 5 games, which earned him his own unique piece of NFL history.
“McMillan’s five straight games with a receiving touchdown is the second-longest streak by a rookie in NFL history, trailing only Randy Moss (7),” the Buccaneers’ communications department posted on its official X account on January 5.
McMillan finished his rookie season with 37 receptions for 461 yards and 8 touchdowns. That included 24 receptions for 316 yards and 7 touchdowns over the last 5 games. While the knee jerk reaction might be to say McMillan’s rookie season was an overwhelming success, also take into account he missed 4 games due to injury. That takes some of the shine away from his great finish.
McMillan Likely First Round Pick Before Injury
Watching McMillan struggle through the majority of his rookie season wasn’t what the Buccaneers higher ups had in mind when they drafted him in the third round (No. 92 overall) of the 2024 NFL draft.
It was probably especially disheartening after a promising preseason and training camp in which McMillan looked like a player ready to slide right into the starting lineup alongside veteran wide receivers Chris Godwin and Mike Evans.
An injury to McMillan in 2023 at the University of Washington prevented him from being a first round pick — something he looked like he was going to be after he had 79 receptions for 1,098 yards and 9 touchdowns in 13 games as a sophomore in 2022.
