McMillan drafted by Browns in 5th round

By Ryan Wood     Apr 25, 2005

Bill Snead/Journal-World File Photo
David McMillan sacks Missouri quarterback Brad Smith in the second half of their game last fall. McMillan, who had 15 sacks as a defensive end during his Kansas University career, was drafted by the Cleveland Browns with the third pick of the fifth round Sunday.

A franchise tearing its structure down and starting over, united with a player described as a “tweener” just looking for a place to belong at the next level.

Seemed like a perfect fit for former Kansas University football standout David McMillan, who Sunday was selected in the fifth round of the NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns. He was the 139th pick overall.

“I am enthusiastic about playing at the next level,” McMillan said, “and having an opportunity to compete and show everyone in the world that I can be one of the best at my profession.”

McMillan plans to have a hand in the new-look Browns’ resurgence — wherever he’s needed. At 6-foot-3, 262 pounds, McMillan is speedy enough to be a small defensive end or a large outside linebacker in 3-4 defensive sets, which Cleveland likely will implement this fall after a 4-12 season caused a change in coaching staffs.

Cleveland’s official Web site projects McMillan as an outside linebacker, meaning the Killeen, Texas, native has work to do adjusting to the new position.

He could be growing up at the same time as the franchise that has dibs to his services.

“They’re basically starting over,” said Craig Domann, McMillan’s agent who has several other clients on the Browns. “I think it presents a greater opportunity for him. They want to win, and they want to win now.”

Cleveland picked up three Big 12 Conference players this weekend, including McMillan, Oklahoma safety Brodney Pool and OU cornerback/punt returner Antonio Perkins. The Browns’ big catch was Michigan wide receiver Braylon Edwards, who went third overall Saturday.

Domann said Cleveland linebackers coach Mike Haluchak came to Lawrence to watch McMillan work out recently, one of numerous franchises interested in him. The Browns are remodeling all of its schemes under new head coach Romeo Crennel, a former New England defensive coordinator who was instrumental in the Patriots’ three Super Bowl titles in the past four years.

“McMillan has speed,” Crennel said. “He had a lot of sacks in his college career, and we hope he can help there. He’ll have to learn to drop into pass coverage.”

New England also ran the 3-4 defense — using three linemen and four linebackers — and, like Cleveland, expressed interest in McMillan after his strong showing at the NFL Combine in February.

In 3-4 sets, the outside linebacker has more opportunities to pass rush around the offensive tackles — something McMillan specialized in as a defensive end at Kansas, where he had 15 sacks in his four-year career, including seven last season.

A 40-yard dash clocked at 4.58 seconds at the combine in Indianapolis assured NFL scouts that McMillan had linebacker speed. After his strong showing, it almost was a given that he’d be drafted somewhere — it was just a matter of where.

Domann was hoping his client would be scooped up Saturday, when the first three rounds took place. But his slip to the third pick of the fifth round still will make him comfortable financially; Domann estimated McMillan could be paid around $350,000 his rookie season.

Not a bad entry-level job, huh?

“It all depends on how many years he signs,” Domann said. “But no matter what, it’s a nice salary for your first year out of college.”

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