With the 2025 NFL Draft in the books, it’s time to reflect on how the Jacksonville Jaguars fared. Did rookie GM James Gladstone deliver a masterclass, or has he just set the Jags back five years? Truth is, we probably won’t know that for some time. But we can get to know the newest members of the team a little bit better. In the first of a mini-series of deep dives, here are three things to know about Wyatt Millum, OL, West Virginia:
From Diamond to Gridiron
Wyatt Millum headed into the NFL Draft with plenty of experience, having suited up 47 times for the West Virginia Mountaineers. 43 of those games were at tackle - although Millum is widely expected to shift inside at the Pro level to accommodate a lack of an ideal length. That alludes to the lineman’s versatility - unsurprising for a football star who played both sides of the ball in high school. But if you think his strengths lie solely on the offensive line, then think again…
Turns out Millum might have something of an arm on him too. A four-star recruit in high school on the football field, Millum enjoyed more than 20 scholarship offers - including ones from powerhouses such as Alabama, Georgia and Notre Dame. The Huntington native decided to stay close to home and become a Mountaineer, but only after flirting with the idea of playing Baseball at college first.
Millum courted plenty of interest as a left-hand pitcher, going as far as committing to Marshall early to star on the diamond. According to former 247 Sports scouting director, the newest member of the Jacksonville Jaguars could sling it:
“Thick but not fat offensive lineman with good length and height. Good all-around athlete that plays multiple sports and can touch the high 80s as a pitcher in baseball.”
Fortunately for WVU and now the Jaguars, Millum eventually decided that football was his future and not baseball. But perhaps Liam Coen can cook up a trick play with the big man throwing the ball in the red zone!
West Virginia tough
Throughout the draft process, one thing has stood out about Wyatt Millum - toughness. Beloved at WVU due to his toughness and grit, Millum has demonstrated those qualities at every stage between leaving Morgantown and winding up in Duval County. Don’t just take that from me - here’s a handful of quotes from more respected draft analysts:
“The Jaguars just got a lot tougher up front. A consensus first-team All-American last fall, Milum (6-6 ½, 313) was named the Big 12 offensive lineman of the year. At West Virginia, Milum started 43 games, including 35 at left tackle. A former high school wrestler, Milum has the height and weight to stay at offensive tackle, but his shorter arms (32 1/8 inches) prompts a move inside – at least initially.”
Scott Dochterman, New York Times
“Tough, strong and assignment-oriented, Milum possesses the frame and mentality of an NFL player. It’s hard to get excited about his prospects as a tackle due to his shorter arms, but there is no reason to believe Milum can’t bump inside to guard and offer tackle depth in a pinch. He plays with heavy hands in pass protection and has ideal instincts to sniff out twists and stop them in their tracks. He’s hard to bull-rush or push around in the running game but he will slip and slide off sustain blocks at times due to a narrowing base. His physical profile, play strength and football intelligence could have him ready as an early starter for gap-scheme teams.”
Lance Zierlein,NFL.com
“Smart, tough, & dependable. It’s what NFL teams are looking for.”
Jim Nagy, former Executive Director of theSenior Bowl
I’m currently sat here envisioning some Rocky-style montage with Millum lugging tree trunks around a farm as part of his draft prep. If James Gladstone’s intention was to get tougher on the o-line, it sounds like he’s nailed it.
High level of execution
Being versatile is one thing, tough another. But can Wyatt Millum protect the quarterback, or blow open holes in the run game? Answer: he can do both…
Trevor Lawrence should be excited. According to reports, Millum didn’t allow one sack in his time at high school - and continued that trend whilst at West Virginia. Despite the high level of competition, Millum kept his quarterback completely clean for the past two years - and only allowed a sack in two of his last 36 games. Those kinds of stats saw him receive multiple accolades in 2024, as well as being named a consensus Big 12 and NCAA All-American.
As for helping the team run the ball, well - Millum is adept in that department too. PFF had him as the best run-blocking lineman in the draft with a very impressive 89.2 grade. That was evident from the tape; Millum anchored an offensive line that helped the Mountaineers rush for 140 or more yards in 27 of the past 29 games. And in his three years as a fully-fledged starter, Millum spearheaded a ground attack that enjoyed 18 games with 200+ rushing yards and 6 that topped 300 yards. I’m not sure what West Virginia’s defense was up to, because the way the offense was clicking you would have thought a playoff spot was a certainty!
After the draft, James Gladstone couldn’t hide his delight in landing Millum with a third-round selection, the Jaguars GM hinting that he will be a contributor early on the interior, and looks forward to Millum replicating the skills he demonstrated against good opposition in college:
“He’s matched up with a lot of really high-caliber rushers over the course of his career… …Abdul Carter, Will McDonald… …I mean, those were high-capacity rushers, and he showcased a really calm demeanor and poise in pass protection, but also a rough and rugged finish. I mean, that was a cool combination that really jumped out to us, and we look forward to him being able to provide us with some version of that versatility but also start with the idea that the interior is where he’ll spend most of his time off the jump.”
Travis Hunter may have stolen the limelight from the Jaguars’ draft weekend. But don’t sleep on Wyatt Millum becoming something special in Jacksonville.