There were some puzzled looks when the Denver Broncos picked a cornerback in the first round of the NFL draft.
The Broncos went with Jahdae Barron with their pick, meaning the Broncos have the Jim Thorpe winner and the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year in Patrick Surtain II, along with Riley Moss in the secondary.
Where does that leave East Carolina football alum Ja’Quan McMillian? Sterling Xie of Pro Football Network believes he’s the odd man out. He wrote that McMillian would be the backup to Surtain and Barron, meaning he could be expendable.
McMillian played on 75.3% of the Broncos’ defensive plays last season, recording two interceptions — one for a touchdown against the Browns — 10 passes defended and held opponents to 6.8 yards a target and an 85.7 passer rating in coverage.
Xie wrote in part, “An exclusive rights restricted free agent, McMillian didn’t receive a multi-year extension from the Broncos this offseason, instead getting a one-year, $1.03 million tender. That’s peanuts for a starting-level slot corner and gives him more trade value than you might expect for a non-household name. With no clear role after Barron’s arrival, McMillian is a decent trade chip the Broncos could cash in for either 2026 picks or immediate help.”
Photo credit: Ja’Quan McMillian (AP photo)
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