The Denver Broncos are entering the 2025 campaign with some heightened expectations, but that’s what happens when you make an unexpected run to the playoffs like they did last year. There’s a lot of talent on their roster, but no position is deeper than cornerback, which has led to a pretty entertaining position battle early in training camp.
One guy who is fighting for a starting job is Ja’Quan McMillian. While the expectation may have been that he would hold onto his role from last season, which saw him start nine games, that isn’t a guarantee. However, that’s just how McMillian likes it, as he enjoys earning everything that comes his way on the field.
Ja’Quan McMillian is Loving Broncos’ Cornerback Competition
McMillian broke into the NFL as an undrafted free agent with the Broncos in 2022. He eventually earned a bigger role with the team in 2023 after spending the majority of his rookie campaign working behind the scenes, before becoming the team’s primary nickelback in 2024. Over 17 games, McMillian racked up 81 tackles, two interceptions (one of which he returned for a touchdown), 10 pass deflections, a fumble forced, and a sack.
And yet, McMillian’s strong campaign didn’t earn him the job for the 2025 season. Denver’s front office surprised a lot of folks when they selected another cornerback, Jahdae Barron, with the No. 20 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Given his draft billing and his talent on the field, Barron seems like a strong bet to start over McMillian come Week 1.
With Patrick Surtain II and Riley Moss locked into the starting boundary cornerback spots, that leaves Barron and McMillian competing for the nickelback position. While McMillian said his competition with Barron is going well, he also commended the rest of the cornerback room for putting in the work necessary during the early stages of training camp.
“I feel like the whole room is doing a good job,” McMillian said when speaking to reporters on Monday. “We all competing, we got a lot of depth, lot of good guys in the room, so I think that’s going good.”
Ja’Quan McMillian Hoping to Earn Starting Job in 2025
GettyDenver Broncos cornerback Ja’Quan McMillian.
Watching your team potentially draft your replacement after your breakout season is never easy, but McMillian has handled the situation with grace and class. While he’s competing with Barron for a starting job, he’s also helping him with his transition to the NFL, which is what any good teammate would do. And of course, it’s worth noting that it’s no sure thing Barron is going to start over McMillian, as this battle is still ongoing.
McMillian and Barron are pushing each other to get better, which is precisely what Denver was hoping to see from their top two nickelbacks. No matter who earns the starting job, the Broncos will feature arguably the best cornerback room in the entire league, and if they are all competing with each other during training camp, that figures to only help them all take another step forward in 2025.
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