The Denver Broncos had one of the NFL’s best defenses in 2024, and a group that included 3 NFL All-Pro picks and NFL Defensive Player of the Year Patrick Surtain II were the lynchpins for the franchise’s first playoff berth since 2015.
When the first round of the 2025 NFL draft came around and everyone in the world thought the Broncos were going to draft a running back, tight end or wide receiver … but head coach Sean Payton doubled down and went with more defense and drafted Texas defensive back Jahdae Barron at No. 20 overall.
Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox predicts it’s the addition of Barron which could lead to the exit of fourth year defensive back Ja’Quan McMillian as a surprise cut in 2025.
“The Denver Broncos tendered exclusive-rights free agent Ja’Quan McMillian this offseason but could still move off of last year’s nine-game starter,” Knox wrote. “McMillian has been a fairly solid role player in Denver. However, the Broncos did just use a first-round pick on Jahdae Barron, who could push McMillian out of the slot role. Parting with McMillian could save just over $1 million in cap space.”
McMillian made the Broncos as an undrafted free agent out of East Carolina in 2022 and has started 13 games at cornerback over the last 3 seasons
“(McMillian) allowed a career-worst 64.4% completion rate in his coverage in 2024, per Pro Football Reference,” Heavy.com’s Josh Buckhalter wrote on April 25. “McMillian was NB1 for the Broncos last season, starting nine of his 17 games played and logging the sixth-most snaps of any Denver defender. Re-signed to a one-year, $1 million contract this offseason, McMillian could be a trade or cut candidate ahead of the regular season after the Broncos’ first draft pick.”
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