The Green Bay Packers may not have countless All-Pro, All-World type players under contract. But they do have one of the deepest rosters in the NFL at almost every position.
The one exception being, of course, at cornerback, where the team feels slightly shorthanded after the release of Jaire Alexander earlier in June.
Consequently, a new trade proposal cooked up in-house lands the Packers an under-spoken about cornerback in the form of Denver Broncos nickel-back, Ja’Quan McMillan.
Green Bay Packer Receive: Ja’Quan McMillan
Denver Broncos Receive: 2026 Sixth Round Pcik
Why Would A Trade For Ja’Quan McMillan Make Sense For The Packers?
McMillan’s stock after a breakout 2023 campaign, in which he managed 2 interceptions and 51 tackles, was dampened by some minor regression in 2024. Yet, he still manages to provide value in Denver, who just picked up his Exclusive Rights Tender earlier this offseason.
The major unorthodox element to the trade proposal is that McMillan is a nickel cornerback, not an outside corner. And the Packers’ need does come on the perimeter, where Alexander played the grand majority of snaps.
But new free agent acquisition, Nate Hobbs, is expected to move outside, leaving the nickel spot vacant. Whilst, at present, safety Javon Bullard is occupying that spot, McMillan provides competition and upside at the position, and is more of a specialist in that department.
And, although McMillan’s height; he is slightly shorter than 5’10, is considered a little short for a traditional outside cornerback, McMillan is the same height – ironically – as Alexander. So it would not be totally outside the spheres of possibility to see McMillan take on a role on the perimeter if the Packers did make a move for him.
Would the Broncos Be Willing To Part With McMillan?
The short answer is probably, yes.
In neglecting the opportunity to take a running back or tight end early on in the draft, the Broncos selected cornerback Jahdae Barron in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft in late April, who is currently supplanting McMillan on the team’s depth chart.
Barron came out as primarily a slot-cornerback, so it is more likely that he will end up starting on the inside, rather than taking the job of outside corner, Riley Moss.
McMillan is also in the final year of his contract – indeed he is playing on the 1-year ER tender, and Denver may be keen to add additional draft picks to their stock in 2026, as they look to set themselves up for the next couple of years under new quarterback, Bo Nix‘s rookie deal.
It could be that the Broncos decide to keep McMillan on as insurance for one of their starters, or for competition with Moss or Barron. But for a reasonable draft capital, the Packers could likely pry the East Carolina grad from their fingertips.
