NFL Draft 2025 player profile: Jalen Milroe, QB, Alabama

NCAA Football: Senior Bowl — Vasha Hunt-Imagn Images

Milroe is one of the most polarizing players in the entire draft. Is he worth a first-round pick? Is he a Day 2 pick? Will he be a good NFL starter?

Writing NFL Draft player profiles and reports is one of my favorite things to do at this time of the year. I’ve nailed it down with these notable Seattle Seahawks draft picks over the past several seasons: Byron Murphy II, Christian Haynes, Tyrice Knight, Devon Witherspoon, Zach Charbonnet, Olu Oluwatimi, Kenny McIntosh, Boye Mafe, Abe Lucas, and Riq Woolen.

As the 2025 NFL Draft nears, we’ll be taking closer looks at a host of prospects, including expected Round 1 picks all the way to Day 3/UDFA options. Today we’re reviewing Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe, who’s been projected anywhere from the first round (and even accepted a green room invite) to as late as the third round. Milroe is arguably one of the most polarizing players of the entire draft class. He’s one of only two quarterbacks the Seattle Seahawks have/will have met for an official 30 visit.

Let’s get to the report!

Prospect Info

Name: Jalen Milroe

Jersey #: 4

College: Alabama Crimson Tide

Position: QB

Awards: — 2024 Named team captain

— 2023 Finalist for the Manning Award for the nation’s top QB; team captain

— Named a semifinalist for the Maxwell and Davey O’Brien Award

— William V. Campbell Trophy (top scholar-athlete, aka Academic Heisman)

Class: Redshirt Jr

Style: Scrambler

Comparison: Justin Fields

Projection: Late 3rd round

Stats

2024: 13 G, 205-319, 2844 YDS, 16 TD, 11 INT; 161 RUNS, 726 YDS, 20 TD

2023: 13 G, 187-284, 2834 YDS, 23 TD, 6 INT; 161 RUNS, 531 YDS, 12 TD

2022: 8 G, 31-53, 297 YDS, 5 TD, 3 INT; 31 RUNS, 265 YDS, 1 TD

2021: 4 G, 3-7, 41 yds, 1 TD; 15 runs, 57 yards (Redshirted)

Combine/Pro Day Results

HT 6’2

WT 217 lbs

Arms: 30’ 3/4”

Wingspan 76⅝”

Hands 9 3/8”

40 yds N/A

10 yd split N/A

Short Shuttle: N/A

3 Cone Drill: N/A

VJ N/A

BJ N/A

Bench Press N/A

RAS: N/A

Background

Jalen Milroe was a highly recommended prospect coming out of high school. He bided his time as Bryce Young’s backup and looked like he would be Alabama’s next big QB. He had a rough start to 2023, being benched and even becoming the third option. That didn’t faze him and in the following game he regained the starting spot and his numbers were so good that he was even considered a Heisman finalist.

His 2024 was terrible. He clearly wasn’t a fit with Kalen DeBoer’s offense, who didn’t know how to adjust his offense to Milroe. There were a lot of interceptions and a significant drop in passing TDs.

Evaluating the prospect…

Athletic Ability

By the time he enters the league, Milroe will be in the top-5 most athletic QBs in the league. And with the potential to achieve even more. He makes defensive backs lose in the open field and launches for long TDs.

Zone read, he has a good understanding of the lead blocker and walks into the open gap.

He is very good at “selling” the pass to set up the QB Draw.

He can get into red zone situations in special packages to run with the ball. I think this is his ceiling in the first year.

He can escape against the Georgia defense from a sack that is certain for most QBs. He still gets a great run.

Accuracy and Mechanics

A simple pass that is too high and gives the defense time to position itself. He does not have the pass established and loses his balance. It is something that needs to be adjusted and is possible to fix.

Yes, there is pressure but the pass did not require a great degree of difficulty.

Decision Making/Processing

He thinks the defender is going to stay on the curl route, but he stays in the flat zone. It’s like Milroe never saw him and he throws a pick six.

Milroe makes the correct progression. He knows the route that will be open and simply holds the ball too long. This causes the pass to be incomplete.

There are three defenders on two receivers on the left side of the attack. Milroe takes too long to realize this and only after a long time goes for the checkdown. This was a 3-man rush, which is why he had all that time, but rarely in the NFL would he have this opportunity.

Like many QBs who run the ball well, Milroe “gives up” quickly and switches from passing to running. Here he has the 45 free, but prefers to run with the ball. This time the result was good.

Anticipation (or lack thereof)

Especially in the NFL, QBs need to pass the ball to players who will be free. Space is very short and the marking is tight. The pass has to come before the cut happens. Otherwise, the defender will have time to react.

Potential to be explored

He identifies the coverage quickly, leaves the pocket to gain time and gets the deep pass.

He holds the safety in the middle of the field and notices the favorable route in the Smash concept. Once again, he shows the potential of his arm to find the WR in depth.

Even with the pocket collapsing, he stays firm and hits the pass between three defenders.

As a RB in motion, he notices the LB following an indication of individual marking. He knows that the route gives the RB an advantage and gets a great pass.

Intangibles

Milroe comes from a military family and credits his parents for instilling in him a work ethic and mental toughness. He’s clearly not afraid to take contact as a runner or stay in the pocket as a passer. There are several instances in his video of Milroe catching a pass when faced with an imminent sack — and then getting up after a hard hit.

Former coach Nick Saban credited Milroe’s leadership and accountability when naming him the starter in 2023, saying, “Jalen really demonstrated the leadership that I was looking for during the game, in terms of supporting his teammates and doing what he needed to do.”

Ex-Alabama offensive coordinator Nick Sheridan also spoke highly of Milroe’s work ethic and leadership after the quarterback was named a team captain last summer.

He said: “He’s the most dedicated player I’ve ever been around. He’s a totally committed and dedicated student-athlete in every area. His teammates respect that. And I think he’s getting more and more comfortable, even now that we’re here, using his voice to encourage, to confront, to demand. Because he’s certainly putting in the time and effort.”

STRENGTHS:

– Outstanding athleticism;

– Strong arm;

– Ability to escape the pocket;

– Leadership;

WEAKNESSES:

– Decision-making;

– Game processing/Anticipation;

– Still raw prospect, will need a year or two of refinement to be truly effective;

Final Thoughts

If Milroe starts in Week 1, regardless of which team he is on, it is likely that his career will be over before it even begins. Sure, maybe I was too harsh, but he needs a couple of years to perfect his technique and evolve with the speed of the game. His athletic qualities are incredible, but they alone will not be enough to keep him as a starter.

The Seahawks would have that “time” to give Milroe since they have Sam Darnold under contract. The question is whether teams will have the patience to polish him before playing him as a starter.