In 2023, the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs’ offense wanted a vertical risk; celebrity quarterback Patrick Mahomes posted the league’s sixth-lowest supposed air yards per try.
In fact, a part of that comes from NFL defenses adopting two-high security seems in opposition to offenses like Kansas Metropolis’s. Nevertheless it’s additionally true that after buying and selling wideout Tyreek Hill to the Miami Dolphins, the Chiefs have been going through zone protection much less typically; groups have been keen to play Cowl 1, thereby daring Kansas Metropolis to beat them excessive. For essentially the most of final season, the Chiefs couldn’t do this.
With the signing of free agent Marquise “Hollywood” Brown, Kansas Metropolis took a step towards fixing this drawback. However they may nonetheless use one other participant who can take the highest off an opposing protection — somebody like Washington broad receiver Jalen McMillan.
Right here’s what it is advisable know concerning the former Husky.
Background
Popping out of San Joaquin Memorial highschool in Fresno, California, McMillan was a four-star recruit who acquired provides from Ohio State, LSU, Oklahoma and Tennessee — however determined to journey up the Pacific coast to Washington.
Redshirted as a freshman, McMillan obtained on his area in his second yr, posting 39 catches for 470 yards and three touchdowns. The next yr was his finest for the Huskies. He registered 79 catches for 1,098 yards and 9 touchdowns, incomes him an honorable point out for the All-Pac 12 crew.
In 2023, McMillan harm his knee within the season’s third matchup, inflicting him to overlook 4 video games and be restricted in others. Whereas he completed the common season with a disappointing 45 catches for 559 yards and 5 scores, he had labored his manner again to being a contributor. In Washington’s three postseason video games, McMillan posted 20 catches, 222 yards and two touchdowns.
On the NFL Scouting Mix. McMillan measured 6 toes 1 and 197 kilos. He ran a 4.47-second 40-yard sprint (62nd percentile) with a 1.53-second 10-yard break up (67th). He additionally posted a 10-foot-7 broad leap (83rd), a 37-inch vertical leap (69th), a 6.94-second three-cone drill (56th) and a 4.18-second quick shuttle (61st).
Movie analysis
However these numbers don’t mirror McMillan’s elite athleticism.
Jalen McMillan, WR, Washington, #11
– Nice deep intermediate route runner, loses zero velocity in his cuts/strides, however not rounded at all- Can run routes from backfield- Possibility routes proven on film- Unbelievable vertical speed- Units up vertical routes, explodes at prime pic.twitter.com/9KJPjs3Oyu
— Nate Christensen (@natech32) April 2, 2024
On movie, McMillian’s velocity and explosiveness are particular. He shows elite explosiveness off the road of scrimmage — and his excessive waist (and lengthy legs) permit him so as to add extra velocity whereas deep into his routes. That’s a giant benefit in vertical routes.
In reality, McMillan is just one of many higher vertical route runners you’re going to see. He has the velocity to get previous downfield defenders — and also can reduce off his routes successfully; he can pretend an over route and switch to the nook with out shedding any velocity in any respect. And when he explodes off his outdoors foot on a publish route, he simply leaves guys within the mud.
However McMillan isn’t only a vertical route runner. Washington additionally used him for possibility routes from the backfield. Since no linebacker or security may cowl him one-on-one, this created actual issues for defenses. This additionally allowed McMillan for use within the display screen sport, the place he used his area imaginative and prescient to create yards after the catch.
Nonetheless, this broad receiver’s beneath route tree stays restricted. I imagine that’s largely the results of catching passes from Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. Whereas he has an unbelievable arm, Penix struggles to throw beneath with accuracy. So the Huskies’ offense was designed to win with downfield routes and explosive performs.
Since McMillan confirmed good burst and timing on his possibility routes from the backfield, nonetheless, I see no purpose he couldn’t be an efficient goal beneath.
How he suits with the Chiefs
In Kansas Metropolis, McMillan’s would match proper in. He’d basically be a sooner, extra agile model of Marquez Valdes-Scantling. Whereas he wouldn’t essentially take reps because the X broad receiver (like Valdes-Scantling generally did), the Chiefs didn’t make the most of that a part of Valdes-Scantling’s skillset fairly often. However McMillan may run all of the routes that Valdes-Scantling (and Justin Watson) have been getting — and McMillan is rather more proficient than both one.
And as he did in Washignton, McMillan would additionally thrive in movement and from the backfield — giving head coach Andy Reid alternatives to make use of him in artistic methods.
The underside line
If McMillan hadn’t been injured in 2023, we’d be giving him a first-round grade. He was on that trajectory in 2022 — however his damage (and the expansion of gamers like Rome Odunze and Ja’Lynn Polk) have brought about his inventory to fall. So the Chiefs may purchase low.
While you’re as athletic and fluid as McMillan is on vertical routes, you’re going to reach the NFL. And I really like McMillan’s scalability. In Kansas Metropolis’s offense, he couldn’t solely operate in house, but in addition destroy defenses taking part in man protection on vertical routes and be efficient on beneath routes. McMillan may draw the eye that Watson and Valdes-Scantling by no means may — and for the Chiefs, that might open many offensive alternatives.
