Ja'Quan McMillian

Ja'Quan McMillian
McMillian with the Denver Broncos in 2025
No. 29 – Denver Broncos
PositionCornerback
Roster statusActive
Personal information
Born (2000-06-04) June 4, 2000 (age 25)
Winston-Salem, North Carolina, U.S.
Listed height5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Listed weight183 lb (83 kg)
Career information
High schoolWest Forsyth (Winston-Salem)
CollegeEast Carolina (2019–2021)
NFL draft2022: undrafted
Career history
Awards and highlights
Career NFL statistics as of 2025
Total tackles195
Sacks7.0
Forced fumbles5
Fumble recoveries2
Pass deflections24
Interceptions6
Defensive touchdowns2
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Ja'Quan McMillian (/mækˈmɪlən/ mak-MIH-lən; born June 4, 2000) is an American professional football cornerback for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the East Carolina Pirates and was signed by the Broncos as an undrafted free agent in 2022.

College career

McMillian was a semi-finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award and earned second-team All-American honors for his 2021 season.[1][2] He also earned second-team all-American Athletic Conference honors for his 2020 and 2021 seasons.[3][4]

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
5 ft 9+3⁄4 in
(1.77 m)		 181 lb
(82 kg)		 29 in
(0.74 m)		 8+5⁄8 in
(0.22 m)		 4.59 s 1.67 s 2.69 s 4.25 s 6.76 s 36.5 in
(0.93 m)		 10 ft 0 in
(3.05 m)		 14 reps
All values from Pro Day[5]

After going unselected in the 2022 NFL draft, the Denver Broncos signed McMillian as an undrafted free agent.[6] He was waived at the final roster cuts, on August 30, 2022.[7] The Broncos signed him to their practice squad the next day,[8] where he remained until January 3, 2023, when he was elevated to the active roster.[9] McMillian made his professional debut 5 days later as a starter in the Broncos' Week 18 matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers, in which he played every defensive snap.[10]

In his second season, he appeared in 16 games and started three. He finished with two sacks, 51 total tackles (37 solo), two interceptions, five passes defended, two forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries in the 2023 season.[11] As the season progressed, McMillian became the Broncos' primary nickel corner after Essang Bassey was cut from the team and K'Waun Williams spent the entire season on injured reserve.[12]

In Week 13 of the 2024 season against the Cleveland Browns with less than two minutes remaining in the fourth quarter and the Broncos leading 34–32, McMillian intercepted a pass by Jameis Winston and returned it 44 yards for a touchdown, effectively sealing the game for the Broncos.[13]

On March 4, 2025, the Broncos assigned his exclusive-rights free agent tender, keeping him under contract through the 2025 season.[14] McMillian was instrumental in the Broncos' Week 11 victory against the Kansas City Chiefs, recording an interception and two sacks. With the win the Broncos moved to a record of 9–2 and obtained a two-game lead for first place in the AFC West.

During the Broncos Divisional Round matchup against the Buffalo Bills, McMillian intercepted Josh Allen in overtime, ripping the ball away from Brandin Cooks to give the Broncos the ball. They would end up kicking a game-winning field goal on the subsequent drive, advancing to the AFC Championship.[15]

On February 27, 2026, the Broncos placed a second-round RFA tender on McMillian worth $5.8 million.[16]

References

  1. ^ Russo, Ralph D. (December 13, 2021). "AP All-America team: Young and Tide lead with 3 1st teamers". AP NEWS. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
  2. ^ Igoe, Stephen (December 13, 2021). "Ja'Quan McMillian named Associated Press All-American". HoistTheColours. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
  3. ^ "American Announces 2020 Football Postseason Honors". TheAmerican.org. December 15, 2020. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
  4. ^ "American Announces 2021 Football Award Winners and All-Conference Teams". TheAmerican.org. December 1, 2021. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
  5. ^ "2022 NFL Draft Scout Ja'Quan McMillian College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
  6. ^ Payne, Scotty (May 31, 2022). "Broncos roster review: Rookie cornerback Ja'Quan McMillian". Mile High Report. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
  7. ^ Lynch, Tim (August 30, 2022). "Broncos waived cornerback Ja'Quan McMillian". Mile High Report. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
  8. ^ Lynch, Tim (August 31, 2022). "Broncos sign cornerback Ja'Quan McMillian to the practice squad". Mile High Report. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
  9. ^ DiLalla, Aric (January 3, 2023). "Broncos promote CB Ja'Quan McMillian and OL Will Sherman to active roster, place G Dalton Risner and RB Marlon Mack on injured reserve". Denver Broncos. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
  10. ^ "Los Angeles Chargers at Denver Broncos - January 8th, 2023". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
  11. ^ "Ja'Quan McMillian 2023 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved September 2, 2024.
  12. ^ Gabriel, Parker (November 24, 2023). "Ja'Quan McMillian found home at nickel and jump-started Broncos defense in the process". The Denver Post. Retrieved July 13, 2025.
  13. ^ Graham, Pat (December 3, 2024). "McMillian's pick-6 helps Broncos spoil career nights by Winston and Jeudy and beat Browns 41-32". AP News. Retrieved December 5, 2024.
  14. ^ Tomasson, Chris (March 4, 2025). "Broncos tender exclusive rights free agents McMillian, Tillman, Krull, Jackson, Key". Denver Gazette. Retrieved March 5, 2025.
  15. ^ "Can't-Miss Play: McMillian rips football away from Cooks for pivotal INT in OT". NFL.com. January 17, 2026. Retrieved January 18, 2026.
  16. ^ "NFL news roundup: Broncos tendering restricted free-agent CB Ja'Quan McMillian". NFL.com. Retrieved February 27, 2026.
allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ja%27Quan_McMillian