5 Denver Broncos that need a hot start to training camp to survive

Sep 25, 2021; Greenville, North Carolina, USA; East Carolina Pirates cornerback Ja'Quan McMillian (21) scores a touchdown on his interception return against Charleston Southern Buccaneers during the second half at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 25, 2021; Greenville, North Carolina, USA; East Carolina Pirates cornerback Ja'Quan McMillian (21) scores a touchdown on his interception return against Charleston Southern Buccaneers during the second half at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports
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Denver Broncos
Nov 28, 2020; Greenville, North Carolina, USA; East Carolina Pirates defensive back Ja’Quan McMillian (21) celebrates after making a second half interception against the Southern Methodist Mustangs at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports

Denver Broncos who need a hot start in training camp #5: Ja’Quan McMillian, CB

Ja’Quan McMillian is a player that I enjoyed studying prior to the 2022 NFL Draft. Many had him going as high as the third round, but that could have been proof that we don’t quite know what we’re looking for in a player.

McMillian went undrafted, signing with the Denver Broncos shortly after the draft concluded.

The team’s cornerback depth chart looks like this:

1. Pat Surtain II
2. Ronald Darby
3. K’Waun Williams
4. Michael Ojemudia

Damarri Mathis is another name that could steal a roster spot from McMillian.

McMillian is just 5-foot-10, 183 pounds so he’ll likely get outmatched by the league’s top tall wide receivers. K’Waun Williams figures to be the team’s slot cornerback, which is a spot that McMillian could play at if he makes the team.

Maybe he will impress as a rookie training camp player, but my money is on some other players having a bigger impact.

That’s not to say that he can’t make an impact later on in his career—it’s always a good idea to store some players on the practice squad and considering some people thought he was going to be drafted significantly high, it won’t surprise me at all if he turns out to be a solid player in the future.