The NFL Draft is just days away, and there isn't any clear consensus on what the Jacksonville Jaguars plan to do with the fifth overall pick. It wasn't long ago that defensive tackle Mason Graham was the favorite to get the nod, but running back Ashton Jeanty has supplanted him. Adam Schefter, for his part, believes that the Jags will take a route nobody is expecting.
Schefter shared several tidbits ahead of draft day and reports that Jacksonville could be setting its sights on Tetairoa McMillan, citing his pre-draft comparison to Mike Evans and head coach Liam Coen's affinity for the position as the reasons.
"Jaguars coach Liam Coen has long had a soft spot for wide receivers in the draft, and the top-rated wideout in this class, Arizona's Tetairoa McMillan, has drawn comparisons to ... the Bucs' Mike Evans. Coen, who coached Evans last year, knows how valuable a player like that can be to an offense. Some have questions McMillan's passion for football, but others suggest he is misunderstood and that, when he's on a football field, "he's an absolute baller.""
Those questions about McMillan's passion for football emerged when a clip of him saying that he doesn't watch tape outside work made the rounds on social media. But as analyst Warren Sharp noted, that video was more than two years old. On top of that, it's not uncommon for players to focus on things apart from work when they're not at the team's facilities. Either way, there hasn't been any more chatter about the star receiver prospect "not having passion for football."
In fact, McMillan's biggest weakness ahead of the draft may be his lack of top-notch speed. On the other hand, his 6-4 height and massive catch radius make him an intriguing option for teams in need of receiver help. Granted, the Hawaii native will need to work on beating press assignments, but his versatility to line up anywhere across the football field would give the Jags a dynamic chess piece.
In Jacksonville, McMillan would join a wide receiver corps that includes Brian Thomas Jr., Dyami Brown, Parker Washington, and Gabe Davis.
Why the Jaguars may not pass up the chance to draft Tetairoa McMillan
The Jacksonville Jaguars are reportedly targeting Jack Bech and Emeka Egbuka. Both are projected to go in the second round. It's worth noting that they mostly line up in the slot, so the team's brass would bring either one as a potential replacement for Christian Kirk. Meanwhile, Tetairoa McMillan could potentially be WR2 opposite Brian Thomas Jr.
Currently, the Jaguars lack a big target who can help them move the chains and reel in contested catches in the red zone. McMillan could help with that. Of course, Jacksonville would need to pass on other intriguing options at No. 5 if they went with him.
Speculation about Ashton Jeanty going to the Jags is ramping up ahead of the draft, but Mason Graham shouldn't be ruled out just yet. The same is true for Armand Membou and Jalon Walker. On the other hand, there's also been chatter about Jacksonville moving back a few spots, with the Dallas Cowboys and the Chicago Bears emerging as potential trade partners.
For the sake of the argument, let's say that the Jags get pick No. 10 (Bears) or No. 12 (Cowboys), Jeanty, Membou, and Walker will probably be gone by then. However, there's a strong chance that McMillen will still be available. If that's the case, they may not hesitate to pull the trigger.
Ultimately, the Jaguars won't box themselves in the draft. Even though it's been a while since they've been linked to Tet McMillan, he could end up being the pick, whether the Jags stay put at No. 5 or trade down.