Why new Seahawks QB Jalen Milroe could see the field right away

The Seattle Seahawks may be hoping that they just drafted their quarterback of the future in Jalen Milroe, but whether or not that’s true, the third-round pick may still be able to contribute at QB right away.

Seattle Seahawks draft Alabama QB Jalen Milroe at No. 92

The talented Alabama product has great running ability and a strong arm, but his accuracy is a question mark. Plus, Seattle just signed 2024 Pro Bowl QB Sam Darnold after trading Geno Smith to Pete Carroll’s Las Vegas Raiders. So that essentially rules out Milroe being the QB anytime soon.

But when you run like he can (4.4 seconds in the 40-yard dash), you can always be a weapon on the field – say, like with a special package in the playbook.

Draft Reaction: Seahawks taking QB Jalen Milroe was ‘right thing to do’

When Seahawks general manager/president of football operations John Schneider and head coach Mike Macdonald spoke to members of the media after Day 2 of the 2025 NFL Draft, they seemed plenty open to the idea of new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak using Milroe however he sees fit.

“He’s a unique, special athlete,” Schneider said of Milroe. “… We’re gonna develop him as a quarterback, but with that, he can add something special as we go.”

Macdonald echoed the sentiment.

“Jalen’s a quarterback through and through,” Seattle’s second-year coach said. “He’s gonna be trained to play quarterback for us… but the athleticism is gonna come to life when he’s on the field, and that’s how he’s gonna help us.”

.@JalenMilroe vs. Georgia last season: 374 passing yards, 117 rushing yards, 4 touchdowns 🔥 @AlabamaFTBL

📺: 2025 @NFLDraft – April 24-26 on NFLN/ESPN/ABC
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/FUlMNFXdEm

— NFL (@NFL) April 19, 2025

Kubiak used the multi-positional Taysom Hill in his previous OC job with the New Orleans Saints. But whereas Hill played a hybrid tight end/fullback role while sometimes taking snaps, Macdonald sees Milroe as a different kind of weapon.

“We’re running Klint’s offense and Jalen’s gonna fit right in, but when he’s in there we’re gonna be doing stuff he does great, just like we will when Sam’s leading the charge,” Macdonald said. “It’s gonna be a lot of fun. … One of the reasons we hired (Kubiak) was his ability to incorporate the whole roster and really bring out what everybody does really well, so adding Jalen’s a part of that.”

Anybody who has seen Milroe play won’t have trouble imagining what he could bring to Seattle’s offense, especially if it was in 2024 when he ran for 726 yards and 20 touchdowns for Alabama. But the passing will be a work in progress.

He had 16 touchdowns to 11 interceptions last season, and threw for 2,844 yards with a 64.3% completion rate. That was actually a step back in terms of efficiency from 2023, when he threw for 2,834 yards, 23 touchdowns and six picks with a 65.8% completion rate.

.@JalenMilroe can do it all at the QB position 😤

(by @FedEx) pic.twitter.com/Z5nggkyPlr

— NFL (@NFL) April 9, 2025

Regardless of those concerns, the Seahawks are excited to have Milroe as their fifth – yes, fifth – QB on the roster.

“It’s a cool day in Seahawk history,” Schneider said after Seattle made three picks Friday. “… Adding Jalen right there at the end was a big deal for us.”

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