Jalen McMillan Lauded For “Unbelievable” Toughness
May 26th, 2026
When receiver Jalen McMillan was drafted in 2024, Bucs officials made it clear they thought they got a second-round talent in a third-round pick.
McMillan delivered eight touchdowns as a rookie, and he delivered a stunning comeback from a preseason broken neck late last season.
Now Mike Evans is laughing with Brock Purdy 3,000 miles away, so McMillan is being counted on for a big year.
Joe is very confident in 24-year-old McMillan. So is Todd Bowles, per his chatter to local media today after a spring practice.
“Jalen’s tough. His mental toughness is unbelievable,” Bowles said. “His competes and his competitiveness, the way he attacks the ball, the way he fights for every route and tries to get open and wants to be ‘that’ guy,” you know, that gives you a lot of confidence that he’ll be doing that in the games.”
McMillan is a shade slow and a shade small to be a No. 1/X receiver, but Joe wouldn’t be shocked to see him in that role at times. He can jump and fight for the ball extremely well. Along with receiver Emeka Egbuka, versatility is a strength for McMillan.
May 26th, 2026 at 3:02 pm
McMillan is a shade slow and a shade small to be a No. 1/X receiver, but Joe wouldn’t be shocked to see him in that role at times.
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I will say at the end of last year, I thought he looked fantastic, to my eye he was the best WR on the team. Maybe it was just the competition the Bucs were playing, but he looked faster and a lot quicker than he did his rookie year. Maybe it was a mirage, he was fresh and going against guys who were tired out from the long year, but it would not shock me in the last if he ends next year as the Bucs WR – and that’s not because other guys underperformed.
Again, maybe I’m off base on that, maybe he can’t keep up the pace over a full year – but really, go back and just watch him once he got back, he was so crisp and quick, he really impressed the heck out of me.
May 26th, 2026 at 3:15 pm
So let’s not bring in washed up QBs who are sitting home only to overthrow almost every receiver, including ending Jalen’s season before it began. (thanks Teddy).
Still amazes me that Bridgewater threw two touchdown passes, one was not even a good throw, and that was it. He was plugged in as the back up and was so bad they could not take Baker out when he was clearly playing injured.
Another bad coaching decision
May 26th, 2026 at 3:49 pm
JMac is going to have a good year.
May 26th, 2026 at 4:48 pm
Joe … ‘Along with receiver Emeka Egbuka, versatility is a strength for McMillan’.
Nice bottom line Joe, but you left out Chris Godwin. He’s at least as ‘versatile’ as Egbuka & McMillan, and maybe more-so. And all 3 of them are tough as nails.
May 26th, 2026 at 4:51 pm
he just came back from a broken neck and catches a pass at the one yard line over the middle in traffic. jmac is a stud, can’t wait for him to go off this year
May 26th, 2026 at 4:59 pm
Yeah all of them are very good blockers in the run game too due to toughness.
May 26th, 2026 at 5:01 pm
As good as Egbuca and JMac are- Chris Godwin was finally healthy to end last season. And a healthy Chris Godwin is still our best receiver. He’s gonna have a great season. Our passing game, with our OLine, receivers, and QB healthy, is potentially the best passing game in this league. And I ain’t whistling Dixie.
May 26th, 2026 at 5:06 pm
Last year he moved at breakneck speed.
May 26th, 2026 at 5:17 pm
A shade slow…? He ran a 4.47 40 yard dash at the combine. A 4.7 40 is plenty fast enough for a receiver. Keon Coleman, now that’s slow.
May 26th, 2026 at 5:20 pm
Egbukas’ been getting more of the talk, but I’m most excited to see how J-Mac performs throughout the rest of the offseason and the first month of the regular season.
May 26th, 2026 at 5:40 pm
i love JMac, my favorite player
May 26th, 2026 at 6:28 pm
I wish “tough” meant he plays all the games and doesn’t miss time with injuries. Just like I wish “he’s doing well” meant Bucky Irving is healthy and ready to play.
Bowels does too much gaslighting. No wonder he lost the team last year.
May 26th, 2026 at 7:55 pm
I say this sincerely and seriously J Mac may really actually shock people. I said it this morning he is the guy nobody is talking about. His comeback last year was incredible. I mean after breaking your neck and coming back better than ever and no fear!!!. I mean common now. Give this guy some props. Please!!!!!
May 26th, 2026 at 10:40 pm
Our WR room is LOADED.
As others have said – JMac might just turn out to be our #1 if he keeps playing like he did the last few games coming back from a broken neck.
Sucks we lost ME13 – its going to be very hard for me and many to see him wearing another teams jersey…. but honestly – the Bucs are probably better off not having to pay $25M for Evans with all the other talent in that room.
That $ was better spent shoring up the Defense (Robinson, Anzalone).
Besides – Evans left for selfish reasons IMO.
Mike wants to be THE MAN and get 120 balls thrown to him for the next couple years. To pad his personal stats for posterity’s sake and to guarantee 1st ballot HOF enshrinement.
That wasn’t going to happen here and he knew it.
Its OK – better to lose a legend a year or 2 early than pay top dollar for likely declining returns as his body continues to age…..
I wish Mike all the best – but I won’t lie that it would feel like a kind of poetic justice if the 49ers win 7 games and the Bucs make a run to the Super Bowl in 2026.
May 26th, 2026 at 11:19 pm
Jalen has had 2 great seasons despite serious adversity. He is competetive and him and egbuka spuur each other on.
May 27th, 2026 at 6:56 am
I too believe he was the best receiver at the end of last season. He’s going to have a huge season as teams will try to defend CG and EE with help. As the 3rd receiver he should get better matchups. The dude knows how to get open in the end zone.
May 28th, 2026 at 2:20 am
@Rod Munch Says: “to my eye he was the best WR on the team.”
He was. Also, remember… He was the best WR (before his injury) on an absolutely LOADED Washington Huskies Team that made it all the way to the National Championship Title Game against Michigan. A WR group that also had Odunze (9th-overall pick), and Polk (38th-overall), in his same draft-class. And, Penix as their QB.
May 28th, 2026 at 4:31 am
I wish I wouldn’t have missed this article. JMac is far more special than any of the pundits seem to realize. THAT’S A FACT!
I Absolutely believe in him. He was my favorite receiver Before Mike left. Not taking anything away from Mike. I just Really Like JMac. He truly impresses me. And the come back last year. I mean not Only did HE light it up and close out All the games in 2024, he seemed to have picked up where he left off by duct taping him neck back together in record time! The guy plays WITH PURPOSE! One of the best draft picks Licht has ever grabbed late in a draft. He’s a winner.
Not really sure what you’re talking about concerning his speed Joe. I didn’t notice him moving slow… Ever….