Bucs OTA practices can be fun and are an important tool for Todd Bowles and the coaches to get an early read about how the 2024 roster is looking. It isn’t the end all, be all, though, because there are no pads being worn or physical contact going on. Even with all the rules put in today, football is still a contact sport.

Bucs HC Todd Bowles – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

So naturally, when hearing Todd Bowles talk about a particular rookie that he wants to see play in pads, one would hypothesize that it would be first pick Graham Barton. It makes all the sense. Barton is an offensive lineman who the Bucs plan on using at center. Besides snapping with Baker Mayfield and some athletic movements, nobody has been able to see his true abilities since lineman are hitting each other.

This would understandably fit, but Todd Bowles actually has another player in mind and it’s a guy that he’s already been able to watch play a fair amount given his position. Following Tuesday’s OTA practice, Todd Bowles had a couple of things to say about wide receiver Jalen McMillan.

Todd Bowles Is Complimentary Of McMillan

“He’s very competitive, extremely smart,” Todd Bowles said. “Very heady football player – which is what we thought going in. I really can’t wait to get the pads on him, get him acclimated and see him play in the summer.”

Bucs WR Jalen McMillan – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Its early on in the offseason but McMillan has already stood out to a degree making some big plays. It started with rookie mini-camp having caught a deep ball way down the field. That continued during OTAs as McMillan got the better of cornerback Bryce Hall, who the Bucs view as a starting caliber player, by beating him on a go route. McMillan caught the pass from Baker Mayfield, jumping for it before Hall was able to.

We’ve seen some acrobatic plays early on from McMillan. Hopefully it’s a sign of things to come. For the time being it’s way too early to anoint him as the next big thing. He’ll have to prove it when the pads come on. Todd Bowles would love to know that the Bucs have found their third wide receiver in the offense after Mike Evans and Chris Godwin.

Godwin On McMillan

While Evans hasn’t been at OTAs, which are optional, Godwin has been there like he always has. Godwin shared his initial thoughts about McMillan after seeing him play.

“I like him,” Godwin said. “He seems like he’s a good kid. From day one you can tell that he’s been coming in eager to learn. He’s got real good movements about him, good hands. You could tell he was coached really well. I think he’s going to be a great fit for our room.”

Could McMillan Be The Returner For The Bucs?

Offense might not be the only area in which we see McMillan help the Bucs. He may potentially be in the running to be a punt or kick returner for the Bucs as well. McMillan has some experience doing it at Washington as he has nine career punt returns for 83 yards and an average of 9.2 yards per return.

At OTAs, we’ve seen the likes of McMillan, Deven Thompkins and Trey Palmer or work on it during special teams drills.

Does this mean this will be the competition come training camp? Has anyone stood out already? By the statement from Todd Bowles, there’s not much to look into just yet.

“I don’t think anybody has showed me flashes in four days,” Todd Bowles said. “They’re just catching punts right now. It won’t come, really, until training camp right now. Everybody is back there catching punts. Hell, I can compete right now because I can catch them if you kick them to me. We’ll wait for the summer and see how that develops.”