Sean Payton makes a strong statement about Ja’Quan McMillian’s future with the Denver Broncos
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — The Denver Broncos have a number of high-profile players set to enter the final year of their contract. Marvin Mims Jr., Ja’Quan McMillian, Riley Moss, Ben Powers, Evan Engram and Brandon Jones highlight that list.
But there might not be a more interesting decision that George Paton, Sean Payton and the Broncos have to make than what they do at cornerback moving forward.
The Broncos signed Pat Surtain II to a four-year, $96 million extension in 2024 and gave him an additional $5 million raise this offseason, a year following his Defensive Player of the Year campaign.
After this year, Denver‘s two other starting cornerbacks are set to hit free agency with Moss and McMillian entering contract years.
While as of June the Broncos had not started active contract negotiations with McMillian’s camp, Payton made it clear how he views the nickel cornerback’s future with the team.
“Absolutely,” the Broncos’ head coach said following an OTA practice in June, when asked if he wants McMillian in Denver long term. “The ball finds him. We keep talking about taking it away. We even forget Buffalo on the road, Monday night [in] ’23. The first series of the game, ball’s out and he’s causing a fumble. He’s just around it all. That’s not just good fortune—that’s the skill set.”
Despite being one of the smallest players on the field at any moment—listed at 5-foot-10, 183 pounds—McMillian has been a takeaway machine for Denver’s defense.
Since 2023, when he gained a large role on the defense, he has six interceptions, five forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. He took two of his six interceptions to the house.
“He has all the things you’re looking for. Like when I say grit, chip on his shoulder,” Payton added.
The takeaway stats don’t even account for the other ways McMillian impacts the game outside of his traditional cornerback duties. In the past three seasons, McMillian also has seven sacks, 16 tackles for a loss and nine quarterback hits.
Of course, the most impactful play of his young career came in the Divisional Round of the playoffs in January.
Midway through overtime, with the Broncos and Bills tied 30-30, Josh Allen threw a 44-yard bomb down the field in an effort to get Buffalo in game-winning field goal range. Brandin Cooks initially appeared to come down with the pass at Denver’s 20-yard line before McMillian ripped the ball away from him resulting in an interception.
Six plays later, Wil Lutz hit a 23-yard game-winning field goal to send the Broncos to the AFC Championship Game.
“It was his birthday the other day, and we played that interception,” Payton said, following the Broncos’ OTA practice on June 11. “I told him, I said, ‘There will be a day you come to visit me [in a long-term care facility], and I’ll be having applesauce. I won’t remember your name, but I’ll remember that play.”
“You’re going to have to tell me your name, and I’m going to be able to tell you the play and the down and distance in the game,’” Payton said with a smile. “And he laughed.”
Despite being an undrafted free agent in 2022, McMillian held off Denver’s 2025 first-round pick Jahdae Barron last season. Payton has made it clear throughout his tenure with the Broncos he doesn’t care where a player was drafted, or not drafted. Once they are on the team, he will play the best player regardless of draft status.
“There’s a spot in all of our hearts for anyone—whether they’re first, second, third round or undrafted—that competes the way he does, plays the way he does and has the respect of his teammates,” Payton said. “That’s ultimately probably I think one of the most important things a player, coach or anyone in this industry wants is the respect of his peers. Like, ‘You know you’re going to have to play against him.’ I think he has that.”
Payton doesn’t believe a looming payday will impact the 26-year-old corner.
“I think he’s so focused in preparing to play and play well. I’m sure he’ll compartmentalize that, and it will take care of itself very well,” the head coach said, when asked if he’s had conversations with McMillian about entering a contract year. “He’s doing real well.”
Whether it was taking down Patrick Mahomes to seal the Broncos’ victory over the Chiefs in November or intercepting Josh Allen to help Denver advance to the AFC Championship Game, Ja’Quan McMillian has come up big time and time again for the Broncos. Sean Payton “absolutely” wants him to stay in Denver for the long haul.
