When the Jacksonville Jaguars traded up to select two-way star Travis Hunter with the second overall pick in the NFL Draft, it looked like a matter of time before they cut ties with wide receiver Gabe Davis. Less than two weeks later, the front office pulled the trigger, and the veteran receiver is no longer with the team. Based on a recent scoop, the Jags would've still moved from Davis.
Jeremy Fowler of ESPN reports that wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan would've earned consideration at No. 5 if Jacksonville hadn't been able to trade up for Hunter, citing Liam Coen's idea of having ample reinforcements at the position.
"The Jaguars got their coveted receiver help -- and more -- with the trade up to acquire Travis Hunter -- essentially acquiring both of the Diggs brothers with the selection, as multiple scouts pointed out wide receiver Stefon Diggs and cornerback Trevon Diggs as comps. Had Jacksonville stayed put at No. 5, some around the league believed receiver Tetairoa McMillan would've been in play. New head coach Liam Coen likes the idea of having ample reinforcements in that room, especially with the injuries he schemed around in Tampa last year."
This doesn't necessarily come as a surprise. Early in the draft process, defensive tackle Mason Graham was the favorite to go to Jacksonville at No. 5. Then, chatter about the Jags potentially taking running back Ashton Jeanty picked up steam. But at the same time, reports surfaced that they were also interested in McMillan.
All things considered, drafting McMillan with the fifth overall pick would've made sense. The Jags traded slot receiver Christian Kirk before free agency. The former Arizona Wildcat could've replaced him and might have potentially been an upgrade. After all, he can line up anywhere at the line of scrimmage. And at 6'4", he would've given Trevor Lawrence the big target he's been missing throughout his career.
Granted, McMillan lacked top speed and didn't always use his size to his advantage. On top of that, a clip emerged where he said he didn't watch tape in his free time. In his defense, the video was two years old, and it's been known that many prominent NFL players log out once they're off work. Either way, it seems like his positives outweighed the negatives, and the Jags would've pivoted to him if they hadn't landed Hunter.
Tetairoa McMillan would've made Gabe Davis expendable for the Jaguars
Like Travis Hunter, Tetairoa McMillan would've had a big role on offense to start his NFL career. If he had been the pick at No. 5, it wouldn't have changed the fact that Davis was deemed expendable after the draft. Having said that, it's possible that the Jaguars' draft strategy would have changed after the first round.
Keep in mind that Hunter will play two ways for the Jaguars, so they didn't make further additions at cornerback in the remainder of the draft. Had they rolled with McMillan, they might have gone after a cornerback on Day 2 or early on Day 3. Sure, the front office signed Jourdan Lewis, and Jarrian Jones and Tyson Campbell are still in the mix. However, Jacksonville's depth at the position would have been less than ideal.
Hunter might be CB3 or CB4 come Week 1 and will probably work his way up the depth chart as the season progresses. But if Jacksonville hadn't taken him, Montaric Brown would've been CB4 behind Lewis, Jones, and Campeel.
This is a long-winded way to say that the Jags might've needed to add a cornerback later in the draft if they had drafted McMillan, but the writing was on the wall for Gabe Davis regardless.