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Broncos undrafted free agent spotlight on CB Ja’Quan McMillian

By Travis Wakeman

ANNAPOLIS, MARYLAND - NOVEMBER 20: Fullback Kai Puailoa-Rojas #21 of the Navy Midshipmen is tackled by cornerback Ja'Quan McMillian #21 of the East Carolina Pirates during the first half at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium on November 20, 2021 in Annapolis, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
ANNAPOLIS, MARYLAND - NOVEMBER 20: Fullback Kai Puailoa-Rojas #21 of the Navy Midshipmen is tackled by cornerback Ja'Quan McMillian #21 of the East Carolina Pirates during the first half at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium on November 20, 2021 in Annapolis, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /
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Following the 2022 NFL Draft, the Denver Broncos signed defensive back Ja’Quan McMillian as an undrafted free agent. 

Though he has limitations, it was expected by many draft analysts that Ja’Quan McMillian would hear his name called in the draft. His lack of size may have been one of the main reasons why that didn’t happen.

Name: Ja’Quan McMillian

Height: 5-foot-10

Weight: 161 pounds

School: East Carolina

McMillian was one of two defensive backs that the Broncos signed following the draft, though they have already moved on from Hawaii’s Cortez Davis. He will join a crowded room at the cornerback position and one that the team has placed a lot of focus on in recent years.

The Broncos signed Ronald Darby and Kyle Fuller in free agency last year before using a first-round pick on Patrick Surtain. Though things did not work out with Fuller, they signed K’Waun Williams as a free agent this offseason before drafting Damarri Mathis and Faion Hicks.

Currently, McMillian is one of 10 cornerbacks currently on the roster.

McMillian is an intriguing player who looks great in some aspects of the game and clearly needs to develop in others. He might have benefitted from one more year in school but at the next level, he should have some interest as a nickel corner.

He needs to improve as an overall tackler but he has tremendous ball skills and will make quarterbacks pay for errant throws. In 33 games with the Pirates, he had 12 interceptions. He improved his interception numbers in each season and in 2021, he returned one of those for a touchdown while also having 16 pass breakups.

Chances of making the 53-man roster (1-10 scale): 5

It will be difficult for McMillian to crack the 53-man roster considering the names that are in front of him. Surtain, Darby and Williams will be penciled in as the starters and Mathis, Michael Ojemudia and Essang Bassey will be the top names behind them.

The other corners on the roster are Donnie Lewis, Blessuan Austin and Hicks and McMillian could certainly do enough to get ahead of all of them, but the team will likely only keep five, maybe six cornerbacks on the final roster.

But it really is about a 50-50 chance for this guy. He could easily overtake a player like Bassey and Ojemudia isn’t going to be locked into a spot either. McMillian could definitely steal a roster spot.

But even if he doesn’t, with teams allowed to carry 16 players on the practice squad this year, McMillian has a high likelihood of being kept on the team that way and I would not even be surprised to see him called up to the active roster during the regular season.

Next. Broncos who could lose their starting job to a rookie. dark

McMillian appears to be one of the more intriguing undrafted players that the team signed.

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