The Bucs Player That NFL Films’ Greg Cosell Loves

Getting the seal of approval from Cosell shouldn’t be taken lightly as he’s a revered football mind in the industry. McMillan has turned heads so far in the limited amount of practices that have been able to be watched at OTAs and mini-camp.

His athleticism has been fully on display, making great plays to catch the ball, and a majority of his receptions have all come in different spots – flanker, split end and in the slot. On one play it’ll be a go route down the field, the next it’s a post over the middle.

Jalen McMillan has also been able to get the job done with several quarterbacks. Whether it was the quarterbacks at rookie mini-camp, starter Baker Mayfield or backup Kyle Trask, McMillan has found common ground with all of them. It’s not always easy for a receiver to build chemistry with several quarterbacks at once, but so far he’s been able to.

In a way McMillan is “quarterback proof,” meaning it doesn’t matter who’s throwing the ball, he’ll still make plays. It’s what made Mike Evans the best throughout all these years playing with the likes of Mike Glennon, Josh McCown, Jameis Winston, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Tom Brady and Mayfield.

NFL reporter Sara Walsh has been to these practices as well. The sentiments are all the same and that is McMillan is showing flashes of what he can be for the offense this season.

Baker Mayfield vs. Trevor Lawrence

On that episode of the Ross Tucker Football Podcast, Tucker brought up an interesting point  saying it was a bargain for the Bucs in comparing the production and contract between what Baker Mayfield was given right before the start of the offseason with the new extension that Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence signed recently.

Mayfield’s new deal is three years for $100 million with $50 million guaranteed. Lawrence has agreed to a five-year deal worth $275 million with $200 million guaranteed in it. Tucker asked Greg Cosell if he thought there was a big difference between Mayfield and Lawrence:

“Not at this moment in time, no,” Cosell answered. “And I studied Lawrence really hard this year and I talked to some coaches about him. What I saw on tape is exactly what coaches said because they’re watching tape, too. What quarterbacks get from a money standpoint is not really relevant because that’s just what the market bears. That’s the way it works – the next guy gets paid.

“It’s just the way it works, you can’t use that as a reflection of what they are as quarterbacks at this given moment. I think someone like Trevor Lawrence, I think there’s more to him. Can he get to that? That remains to be seen. I think Baker is kind of what he is and he can be very good at that.”

The Bucs and Jaguars went up against each other last season in Tampa on Christmas Eve, as the Bucs dominated the Jaguars, 30-12, as Tampa Bay scored the first 30 points of the game. Mayfield completed 26-of-35 passes for 283 yards and two touchdowns.

It was surprising that Lawrence even played since he was coming off some serious injuries and that undoubtedly impacted him that day as he went 17-of-29 for 211 yards with one touchdown, two interceptions and was sacked three times.

Tampa Bay and Jacksonville don’t play each other in the regular season this year, but they will have a joint training camp session in Jacksonville along with a preseason game.

Check out the whole episode of the Ross Tucker Football Podcast that previews the NFC South division for this season coming up.