Ja’quan Mcmillian Relishes Opportunity To Make Big Plays As Broncos’ Nickelback

The Denver Broncos sport of the best secondaries in the National Football League. The starting outside duo of Patrick Surtain II and Riley Moss get most of the press clippings. However, nickelback Ja’Quan McMillian has been instrumental to the revitalization of the franchise’s defense the past several seasons.

Undrafted out of East Carolina, the Broncos signed McMillian after the conclusion of the 2022 NFL Draft. He impressed in training camp as a rookie but failed to make the final 53-man roster. After a long wait on the team’s practice squad, the feisty corner played in Denver’s final game of the season against the Los Angeles Chargers.

It wasn’t just spot duty; McMillian played every single snap. Since then, the fifth-year pro has been a mainstay for the Broncos’ defense and performed at a high level. His ability to create turnovers has been a standout quality, something Head Coach Sean Payton made note of recently.

“I see someone who’s really good at taking the ball away, I see football I.Q. Then someone who’s playing with good leverage. It’s easy to say, ‘Take it away,’ but sometimes if you’re not in a position, you’re just catching up, trying to make a tackle. He’s a great study,” emphasized Payton who believes other players can learn alot by studying McMillian’s playstyle and penchant for turnovers.

Over the past three seasons, McMillian boasts six interceptions during the regular season. Two of them have been returned the distance for touchdowns. Additionally, he has forced five fumbles and recovered two of them. Whenever the Broncos have needed a game-changing play, more often than not, it has been McMillian who has answered the call.

Just take a look back at his impressive interception versus Josh Allen in the AFC Divisional Playoff victory over the Buffalo Bills as a prime example. It doesn’t get more clutch than that. The Broncos likely don’t win the game without that happening. Yesterday after practice, McMillian talked about why he is seemingly a magnet for the football on the gridiron.

“I think it’s both. The more you work on it, taking the ball away, we do turnover drills, that helps. I think a lot of it is something that’s just in the player. I’ve been doing it my whole career at every level. The ball just finds me, and I just do my job. I just happen to be in the right spot,” stated McMillian who acknowledged instincts and learned skills help with his ability to create turnovers.

Life as a quarterback in the NFL is tough, but McMillian has held up tremendously. He may not be the most targeted player in Denver’s secondary—but when the ball does come his way—the opposition isn’t having much luck. Since the 2023 season, he touts a staunch 52-percent completion percentage. That’s one of the best in the league.

“Communication wise, just being that leader on the field, or getting everybody in position, getting the calls to the to the back end of defense, the linebackers, I think it’s a fun thing,” mentioned McMillian on what he enjoys about playing the nickel spot in Vance Joseph’s defense.

“There are a lot of plays you can make in there, blitzing the quarterback, making tackles in the run game, covering, making plays on the balls in every which way. Just being a leader to the guys and being a controller of the back end.”

Earlier in the week, defensive lineman Zach Allen praised McMillian as the player that gets the Broncos’ defense going. That’s quite the statement considering how many incredible players the team has on that side of the ball. Going from an undrafted free agent to one of the league’s most underrated defenders has been quite the journey for McMillian, who is playing this year on a second-round RFA tender.

While McMillian’s future beyond the 2026 season with the Broncos remains uncertain, the high-profile nickelback hasn’t been shy about his desires. He wants to play for Denver for his entire career. He credits Joseph for helping forge him into one of the league’s top defensive playmakers and hopes their relationship can continue for years to come.

“He’s meant a lot to me. I obviously had a different defensive coordinator the first year I was on practice squad. When he came in, I end up making the team. The way he goes about his day, the team, the aggression, he liked to play with the aggressive style. That’s how I like to play, aggressive and physicality. I love ‘VJ’, and our relationship has grown over the years and hope it still continues to grow.”