The Dallas Cowboys wanted to draft Arizona wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan with the No. 12 pick, but the Carolina Panthers foiled that dream when they took McMillan at No. 8 overall. Jerry Jones confirmed Dallas was enamored with McMillan and had him very high on its draft board.
Jones and Co. had the opportunity to select Texas' Matthew Golden, who was a 30 visit and heavily mocked to the Cowboys leading up to Thursday night. Jones even FaceTimed Golden's mom during his visit at The Star.
However, Dallas chose to replace the retired Zack Martin with Alabama guard Tyler Booker. While Booker did not wow in athletic testing, his floor is incredibly high and he represents a major upgrade for the offensive line.
The Cowboys did not find another opportunity to draft a receiver, so now everyone is left wondering what the plan is for WR2. It seems like a foregone conclusion that they will sign or trade for someone, but the question is who?
Well, one name is hiding in plain sight.
Cowboys need to trade for Buccaneers WR Jalen McMillan after NFL Draft
Buccaneers second-year man Jalen McMillan sticks out like a sore thumb. Tampa Bay surprised just about everyone when they selected Ohio State receiver Emeka Egbuka, a player many Cowboys fans wanted Dallas to draft, with its first-round pick.
Nobody expected the Bucs to target a receiver. Mike Evans and Chris Godwin form one of the best duos in football and McMillan showed tons of promise as a rookie. The team is hopeful Godwin, recovering from a dislocated ankle, will be on the field for the start of the season.
Egbuka wasn't drafted in the first round to not have a featured role. That puts McMillan in a precarious spot as he enters year two.
A third-round pick out of Washington, McMillan caught 37 passes for 461 and eight (!) touchdowns last season. He averaged 12.5 yards per catch and made 12 contested catches, per PFF. It stands to reason McMillan would have posted more gaudy numbers if he wasn't playing behind Evans and Godwin.
McMillan came on strong down the stretch when the Bucs were fighting to make the playoffs. He logged at least four catches and 50 receiving yards in the final five games. He caught seven of his eight TDs in that span. Something definitely clicked in the then-rookie.
McMillan won't turn 24 until September and won't cost more than $2 million on the cap for the duration of his rookie contract, which expires after the 2027 season.
Cowboys fans probably want a more proven commodity, but McMillan's arrow is pointing up. He's one name to keep an eye on as the front office (presumably) shops for a new wideout.
