The countdown to the Bucs’ 2026 season is on. Proper now, we’re:
78 days away from Bucs common season kickoff48 days away from Bucs preseason kickoff32 days away from Bucs coaching camp
Within the lead-up to coaching camp, Pewter Report’s Bailey Adams might be diving into storylines for 26 key figures who might be essential to the Bucs’ success in 2026.
Right now, the collection continues with large receiver Jalen McMillan.
26 For ‘26: Jalen McMillan Bucs Storylines In 2026
Can The Bucs Get A Full Season Of Jalen McMillan In Yr 3?
Given the way in which his first two NFL seasons went, Jalen McMillan needs to be hoping that in 2026, he’ll get to have a traditional, wholesome season for the primary time in his profession. As a result of as a lot promise because the 2024 third-round select of Washington has proven in his age-23 and age-24 seasons, there’s been the dreaded caveat of “when he’s on the field…” Maybe the No. 1 aim this season might be to quash that caveat and put collectively a full Yr 3.
It was a quick begin for McMillan in 2024, as he tore it up all through the summer time and into coaching camp, trying the a part of an instant-impact receiver within the Bucs offense. Then, he introduced in his first profession landing in Tampa Bay’s season-opening win over Washington, making for a memorable NFL debut. However that was the lone spotlight early on within the season for the rookie, after which a couple of weeks later, he suffered a hamstring damage that value him two video games. He got here again quickly after, however the hamstring flared up once more and price him two extra video games.
Bucs WR Jalen McMillan – Picture by: USA Right now
McMillan then got here again and eventually put all of it collectively to complete his rookie marketing campaign on a historic run. He caught seven touchdowns over the Bucs’ ultimate 5 video games of the yr to offer him eight for the season. In the long run, he had 37 catches on 58 targets (63.8%) for 461 yards (12.5 avg.) and people eight scores. The way in which he completed the season appeared to set him up properly for an excellent larger second season in 2025.
However that didn’t come to fruition because of a scary neck damage he suffered throughout the preseason. He went up excessive for a Teddy Bridgewater go and got here down on his neck, fracturing three vertebrae in his neck and struggling herniated discs. He was very almost paralyzed, and on the very least, it was a career-threatening damage that compelled him right into a neck brace for 3.5 months. However he ultimately made a triumphant return to the sphere in December, taking part in in Tampa Bay’s ultimate 4 video games of the season after that severe neck damage value him the primary 13.
The Buccaneer offense was a disjointed mess down the stretch final yr, however McMillan did put up a seven-catch, 114-yard efficiency in opposition to the Dolphins in his third sport again. He has seemed good this offseason and might be a closely featured receiver in Zac Robinson’s offense this fall. However the primary factor is that after taking part in in 17 out of a doable 34 video games over his first two seasons, the third-year receiver might be seeking to make it by 2026 with a clear invoice of well being. And greater than something, he’ll absolutely simply be comfortable to be on the market on the sphere and in place to contribute.
Is Jalen McMillan A Darkish Horse Candidate To Be The Bucs’ WR1?
So, talking of that featured function in Zac Robinson’s offense… Is Jalen McMillan a darkish horse candidate to be Baker Mayfield’s go-to receiver? While you take a look at the WR1 scenario now that Mike Evans has moved on to San Francisco, it’s honest to think about veteran Chris Godwin Jr. and Emeka Egbuka, final yr’s first-round decide first. However there very effectively might be an out of doors shot for No. 15 to be the No. 1 man in a whole lot of conditions this season.
Bucs WR Jalen McMillan and QB Baker Mayfield – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR
As Pewter Report’s Josh Queipo astutely outlined on this week’s version of his Queipo’s Cowl 4 column, McMillan has proven a capability to win in opposition to man protection in ways in which Godwin and Egbuka actually haven’t, and that places him ready that might be extraordinarily precious to Robinson’s offense in 2026. Right here’s a small excerpt from Queipo’s Cowl 4 on McMillan:
“That issues greater than ever. Neither Chris Godwin Jr. nor Emeka Egbuka has proven of late they’ll win in opposition to man the way in which McMillan can. Egbuka, the breakout rookie, was swallowed up by man protection in 2025, catching simply seven of 27 targets at 0.91 yards per route run. That’s the actual downfield man function Evans simply vacated [when he left] for San Francisco, and the roster has no apparent inheritor. McMillan is the closest factor to at least one, and he’s sitting third on the depth chart.
“It also puts him in a unique position within the concept of the play. Offensive coordinators like to build their route concepts with both a zone-beater and a man-beater built in. And if McMillan is the team’s most reliable man matchup, at least until rookie Ted Hurst gets up to speed, he may be featured more often than any of us think he will.”
One space of McMillan’s sport that I underestimated when he was a prospect was his skill to make troublesome catches by contact. It began displaying up late in ’24 and continued by his restricted ’25.
It additionally considerably raises his ceiling. pic.twitter.com/zsOKOpKlTg
“…He may be featured more often than any of us think he will.”
Hmmm. That’s actually attention-grabbing, particularly when you think about that McMillan’s ascension on the finish of 2024 by no means actually had an opportunity to proceed into 2025 because of that preseason neck damage.
Maybe the rise continues this yr and turns right into a full breakout. If that’s the case, mix a breakout yr along with his current versatility and the function he might be requested to play on this offense and you actually get the sense that McMillan could not even be a darkish horse choice to be Tampa Bay’s WR1. He could also be a full-fledged favourite.
How Will Jalen McMillan’s Lengthy-Time period Future With The Bucs Start To Take Form?
It feels odd to already be contemplating what Jalen McMillan’s long-term future with the Bucs could appear like, however he’s getting into Yr 3 and because it stands proper now, 2027 might be a contract yr for the soon-to-be 25-year-old. So, what does that future appear like? Proper now, it’s arduous to say, and it seems like a whole lot of the reply to that query is using on this upcoming season.
Bucs WR Jalen McMillan – Picture by: USA Right now
If McMillan has a real breakout season – one thing alongside the strains of continuous the run he had on the finish of his 2024 rookie season – and nears or breaks 1,000 yards, scores 5 – 6 touchdowns and options as a key a part of Tampa Bay’s offense, that would set him up for a pre-2027 contract extension. Common supervisor Jason Licht, assistant normal supervisor Mike Greenberg and Co. have finished that lately with the likes of Tristan Wirfs, Luke Goedeke and Zyon McCollum to keep away from seeing them play out their contract years. The crew might try this once more this yr, maybe with Yaya Diaby.
Then again, his fault or not, McMillan has been restricted to 17 out of a doable 34 video games over the primary two years of his profession. What occurs if he has an injury-riddled 2026 season? At that time, perhaps the Bucs have him play out his contract yr in 2027 earlier than making a choice on his future with the group.
Staying wholesome and producing might go a great distance for McMillan this yr not simply by way of what he’s doing for the crew’s success but in addition in setting himself up for that doable contract extension subsequent summer time (or every time the crew has a clearer image of its funds for the 2027 season). The Bucs would definitely like to have this yr play out in a constructive method and see McMillan set up himself as an enormous a part of the long run. The 2024 third-round decide and 2025 first-rounder Emeka Egbuka really feel like heirs to the thrones which have been occupied by Mike Evans and Chris Godwin Jr. for therefore a few years. It’s as much as them to stay as much as that, although.
Bucs WRs Emeka Egbuka and Jalen McMillan – Picture by: Cliff Welch/PR
In that very same Queipo’s Cowl 4 column that Josh Queipo wrote about McMillan this week, the subject of a doable new contract for McMillan did come up. Queipo cited the damage historical past as a limiting think about figuring out his actual worth proper now, as most of the participant comps that work for McMillan would put him across the $4.5 million per yr mark.
However he’s additionally youthful than these comps, and the issue of breakout potential has Queipo considering that quantity might go as much as as excessive as $10 million per yr for a present worth round two years, $20 million.
There are nonetheless doubtlessly two extra years to play out, although, so solely time will inform. However the first of these two years might go a great distance in clearing up McMillan’s place in Tampa Bay’s future plans.
Catch Up On Earlier Installments Of Bailey Adams’ 26 For ’26 Collection
Baker MayfieldBucky IrvingKenny GainwellChris Godwin Jr.Emeka Egbuka
