Which Bucs wide receiver is flying under-the-radar heading into 2026?

Jalen McMillan enters the 2026 season with a chance to play the biggest role of his young NFL career, and CBS Sports believes he’s not getting enough attention.

In a recent look at under-the-radar players around the league, Zachary Pereles highlighted McMillan as a receiver who could be poised for a breakout season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Pereles pointed to the adversity McMillan overcame in 2025 after suffering a serious neck injury during the preseason. The injury forced him to spend months in a neck brace, making his eventual return one of the more impressive recovery stories of the season.

McMillan didn’t just return to the field, he made an immediate impact. Pereles noted that in just his third game back, the former Washington standout caught seven passes for 114 yards, flashing the ability that made him an intriguing young piece of Tampa Bay’s offense.

His rookie season offered even more reasons for optimism. According to PFF, McMillan caught 39 of 62 targets for 502 yards and eight touchdowns while averaging 12.9 yards per reception. He also forced six missed tackles after the catch and posted an 88.2 passer rating when targeted. Before his injury-shortened 2025 campaign, he finished his rookie year with 25 first downs and five contested catches.

Even with limited opportunities last season, McMillan remained efficient. He caught 12 of his 15 targets for 178 yards, averaging 14.8 yards per catch while producing 2.14 yards per route run, an encouraging mark despite appearing in only a handful of games.

With Mike Evans no longer in Tampa Bay, opportunities are available in the Buccaneers’ passing attack. Emeka Egbuka and Chris Godwin are expected to lead the receiving corps, but McMillan has a chance to establish himself as another reliable weapon for Baker Mayfield if he can stay healthy.

After battling back from a frightening injury and showing flashes whenever he was on the field, McMillan enters 2026 with as much upside as any receiver on Tampa Bay’s roster. If he can put together a full season, CBS Sports believes the rest of the league could quickly take notice.

This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: Which Bucs wide receiver is flying under-the-radar heading into 2026?