Draft Reaction: Seahawks taking QB Jalen Milroe was ‘right thing to do’
Apr 25, 2025, 10:05 PM | Updated: 11:28 pm
For just the third time in 16 years under general manager John Schneider, the Seattle Seahawks have drafted a quarterback.
This one is the ultimate lottery ticket.
The Seahawks took a swing at Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe in the third round of the NFL Draft, selecting the 6-foot-2, 217-pound dual-threat QB with the No. 92 overall pick on Friday night.
Seahawks NFL Draft Tracker: Keep up on every pick and trade
Milroe struggled with inconsistency as a passer at Alabama and is considered by most experts to be a multi-year development project at quarterback. But with game-breaking speed and explosive athleticism packed into a linebacker’s body, he was one of the more tantalizing prospects at any position in this year’s draft.
Seattle already entered the draft with four quarterbacks on its roster, including presumptive 2025 starter Sam Darnold and projected backup Drew Lock. But given Milroe’s upside, the Seahawks decided Milroe was worth a third-round flier.
Seahawks Radio Network analyst and former NFL linebacker Dave Wyman agreed.
“It’s the most important position,” Wyman said during Seattle Sports’ draft coverage. “You should be trying to take as many bites at the apple as you can trying to find the right guy. How many teams have that (franchise) guy? Six, maybe seven? It’s so hard to find those guys.
“But then once you get the right one – I mean, we saw what happened with Russell Wilson. … So I think it’s the right thing to do.”
Milroe’s scouting report
Milroe, a two-year starter at Alabama, finished sixth in the Heisman Trophy voting in 2023 while leading the Crimson Tide to the College Football Playoff semifinals. He had a good season as a passer that year, posting a 65.8% completion rate while throwing for 2,834 yards, 23 TDs and six interceptions. He also ran for 531 yards and 12 TDs.
Milroe put together another big season on the ground in 2024, rushing for a team-high 726 yards and 20 TDs. However, he regressed as a passer. He still completed 64.3% of his passes for 2,844 yards, but threw just 16 TD passes and had 11 interceptions. He really struggled in SEC play, totaling just five TD passes and 10 interceptions in eight conference games.
“He’s the most athletic quarterback in this draft, for sure,” Seahawks Radio Network analyst and former NFL wide receiver Michael Bumpus said. “He has one of the strongest arms in this draft. He’s shown at times (that he) can make the throw from one hash to the corner.
“But it’s the consistency. If he would’ve entered the draft last year, he’s probably going to be a first or second-round draft pick.”
How does Milroe fit into Seattle’s plans?
Darnold signed a three-year, $105 million contract with the Seahawks last month and is expected to be the starter this fall. But if Darnold doesn’t emerge as the team’s long-term answer at QB, his contract is a team-friendly deal that Seattle could move on from after one or two years.
That allows the Seahawks to essentially take a multi-year developmental flier on Milroe to see if he can improve enough as a passer to make him a legitimate starting-caliber QB.
And in the meantime, Milroe could be used in specialty packages that take advantage of his unique athletic traits.
Some have compared it to Taysom Hill’s role as a do-everything offensive weapon for the New Orleans Saints. And there’s a tie there, as new Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak worked with Hill while spending last season as the Saints’ OC.
Related: Why new Seahawks QB Jalen Milroe could see the field right away
For what it’s worth, Milroe appears to be even faster than Hill. Milroe was reportedly clocked at 4.37 seconds in the 40-yard dash at his pro day last month, while Hill reportedly ran a 4.44-second 40-yard dash at his pro day back in 2017.
“I don’t know if you can become a consistent passer,” Seahawks Radio Network analyst and former NFL offensive lineman Ray Roberts said. “It’s one of those things I feel like you either have it or you don’t have it. I don’t know.
“But the cool thing about him is if you do run those packages like (the Saints do with) Taysom Hill, this is a home-run hitter. Like, he’s faster than (Hill).”
Seattle Seahawks and the NFL Draft
• Seattle Seahawks draft Alabama QB Jalen Milroe at No. 92
• Seattle Seahawks draft Miami tight end Elijah Arroyo at No. 50
• Seahawks Draft Reaction: Nick Emmanwori is ‘Swiss Army knife’ safety
• Seahawks trade up to draft South Carolina safety Emmanwori at No. 35
• Seattle Seahawks Draft Reaction: Brock and Bump on Grey Zabel
