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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers don't have a clear-cut No. 1 receiver entering the 2026 season. Chris Godwin Jr has the experience. Emeka Egbuka has the pedigree of a first-round pick entering his second season. Rookie Ted Hurst brings a unique combination of size and speed. But McMillan may have the most momentum of the group.
McMillan finished the 2025 season on a tear after returning from a scary neck injury where he suffered a broken vertebra, becoming one of Baker Mayfield's most reliable playmakers over the final stretch of the year. That's why 2026 could be the year he puts everything together. McMillan already has one thing working in his favor: he has proven he can produce in the NFL.
While projections are easy to make for younger players, McMillan has already shown he can make contested catches, stretch the field, and come through in key situations against NFL defenses.
McMillan isn't limited to one role. He has the speed to win vertically, enough polish as a route runner to separate underneath, and the athleticism to create after the catch. That gives offensive coordinator Zac Robinson flexibility to move him around the formation and keep him involved regardless of the matchup. Perhaps the biggest reason McMillan could emerge as WR1 is his ability to make explosive plays.
The Buccaneers have several receivers capable of piling up receptions, but McMillan has shown he doesn't need double-digit targets to make a major impact. A handful of catches can quickly turn into 100-yard afternoons because of his ability to create chunk plays down the field.
The Buccaneers have one of the deepest receiver rooms in the NFL, meaning any one of Godwin, Egbuka, Hurst or McMillan could finish as the team's leading receiver. But if McMillan carries the momentum from the end of last season into 2026, don't be surprised if he's the one sitting atop the stat sheet when the season comes to an end.
This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: What chances does Jalen McMillan have of being the Bucs' WR1?
Continue reading...
McMillan finished the 2025 season on a tear after returning from a scary neck injury where he suffered a broken vertebra, becoming one of Baker Mayfield's most reliable playmakers over the final stretch of the year. That's why 2026 could be the year he puts everything together. McMillan already has one thing working in his favor: he has proven he can produce in the NFL.
While projections are easy to make for younger players, McMillan has already shown he can make contested catches, stretch the field, and come through in key situations against NFL defenses.
McMillan isn't limited to one role. He has the speed to win vertically, enough polish as a route runner to separate underneath, and the athleticism to create after the catch. That gives offensive coordinator Zac Robinson flexibility to move him around the formation and keep him involved regardless of the matchup. Perhaps the biggest reason McMillan could emerge as WR1 is his ability to make explosive plays.
The Buccaneers have several receivers capable of piling up receptions, but McMillan has shown he doesn't need double-digit targets to make a major impact. A handful of catches can quickly turn into 100-yard afternoons because of his ability to create chunk plays down the field.
The Buccaneers have one of the deepest receiver rooms in the NFL, meaning any one of Godwin, Egbuka, Hurst or McMillan could finish as the team's leading receiver. But if McMillan carries the momentum from the end of last season into 2026, don't be surprised if he's the one sitting atop the stat sheet when the season comes to an end.
This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: What chances does Jalen McMillan have of being the Bucs' WR1?
Continue reading...
