When the Denver Broncos used their first-round pick this past spring on Jahdae Barron, one of the first questions asked was what the team would do with Ja'Quan McMillian. He was seen by many as a player the team could dangle as trade bait.
Not long after that, I discussed that trading him would be a poor move. Despite that, McMillian was seen as an expendable player the Broncos should try and move, perhaps before the trade deadline. That deadline came and went and McMillian remained in Denver, which was a good thing.
With Pat Surtain II nursing a pectoral injury, McMillian is seeing an uptick in defensive snaps and he has shown what he has always shown... That he is ready when his number is called.
On Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs, the biggest win the Broncos have had in close to a decade, he may have been the game's most valuable player. McMillian had an interception of Patrick Mahomes deep in Denver territory and he added two sacks, the second of which came on a huge 3rd-and-10 play that ended up coming on the Chiefs' final offensive possession.
The Broncos have an impressive collection of defensive backs and there was no reason to weaken that group with a trade. The Broncos are aware that all of these players are going to be needed this season and McMillian, who came to the team as an undrafted free agent, has been a tremendous find.
He is a perfect fit for Vance Joseph's defensive scheme and his not being on the field as much was the biggest concern, at least for me, when the Broncos selected Barron. Sure, Barron won the Jim Thorpe Award last season as the nation's best defensive back, but it was easy to see that McMillian was a rising talent.
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The Broncos are lucky to still have him and he should continue to play an important role as the season goes on, one that could result in a deep run by this Broncos team.
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