The 2025 NFL Draft is approaching and Jalen Milroe is one of the most intriguing quarterback prospects in the class. This is a breakdown of how Milroe profiles for the NFL and where he could potentially land.
Jalen Milroe NFL Draft Profile
Physical Traits/College Film
Milroe is one of the most high-upside prospects in the class because of his incredible running ability. The Alabama signal-caller had 20 rushing touchdowns in 2024, the eighth-most of any player in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) and the second-most among quarterbacks, behind only Army’s Bryson Daily. He made plenty of incredible throws, but he had a turnover issue; he recorded 11 interceptions to go with his 16 touchdown passes, and the Crimson Tide’s Reliaquest Bowl loss to Michigan — in which Milroe completed just half his passes for 192 yards, one touchdown, and one interception — ended a solid college career on a bad note.
The upside is high. At six-foot-one and 220 pounds, he has the size, strength, and speed to make plays. He also has a strong arm and is capable of delivering quick throws under pressure or when rolling out to his right. However, he sometimes crumbles under pressure and takes too many sacks, and he becomes significantly less reliable when his first read isn’t open. He sometimes values speed over finesse and doesn’t anticipate the game well enough, so he’s forced to fire rockets into tight windows instead of leading his receivers into open space. In order to become a productive NFL quarterback, he’ll need to become more consistent as a passer, but his scrambling ability should immediately translate to the next level.
NFL Comparisons
Realistic Comp: Anthony Richardson – Like Milroe, Richardson was an unfinished prospect coming into the NFL, and the Indianapolis Colts knew that when they took him fourth overall in the 2023 Draft. At Florida, he was an inaccurate passer and struggled to anticipate coverages, similar to Milroe. Richardson has elite arm strength, 4.43-second 40-yard-dash speed, and an ability to stand in the pocket and deliver throws even under pressure, but he doesn’t put enough touch on short passes and has turnover issues. In the NFL, it’s been a mixed bag; he’s had plenty of highlight-reel throws, but his counting stats — 176-for-348, 2,391 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions in 15 starts — leave a lot to be desired. He’d have probably benefited from a year on the bench, and Milroe will too.
Ceiling Comp: Jalen Hurts – The comparison is almost too easy; Milroe’s ceiling is definitely his predecessor at Alabama and the reigning Super Bowl MVP. Entering the league, Hurts, too, struggled to make anticipatory throws sometimes and took risks instead of settling for easy throws underneath. Like Milroe, Hurts was an elite scrambler with incredible leg strength who was able to extend plays with his legs, even if he opted to run too often when there were throws available. Hurts had a better college career, finishing as a Heisman Trophy finalist in his senior season at Oklahoma, but Milroe has a stronger arm and faster straight-line speed. In his first five seasons in the NFL, he has 140 total touchdowns and only 39 interceptions, an MVP runner-up, and a Super Bowl MVP, so if he wants to live up to his ceiling, Milroe has big shoes to fill.
Potential Landing Spots
These are the teams that are the most likely landing spots for Milroe, who’s most likely going to be picked anywhere between the end of the first round and the start of the third:
Seattle Seahawks – In the draft preview that I wrote for the Seahawks two weeks ago, I wrote that Seattle should consider trading back to the end of the first round or the start of the second and select its quarterback of the future. Geno Smith has been solid across his five-season stint with the Seahawks — three as the starter — but at some point, Seattle is going to need to find a replacement for the 34-year-old. Smith has demonstrated solid leadership qualities throughout his career, and learning from a veteran who’s served in a variety of different roles would be paramount towards maximizing Milroe’s incredible strengths.
New York Jets – New York is in desperate need of a quarterback after agreeing to let Aaron Rodgers go after a disastrous two-year stint with the team. The Jets probably aren’t in the mood for a major rebuild, especially with a pretty solid defense, so Milroe won’t be the Day One starter, but they could bring in a veteran such as Sam Darnold or Jameis Winston for a season and let Milroe develop behind him. New York has a couple of key playmakers already in place — wide receiver Garrett Wilson and running back Breece Hall are among the best young talents at their positions — and Milroe fits their timeline.
New Orleans Saints – Like Seattle, New Orleans has a decent veteran quarterback who isn’t a game-changer. The Saints have lots of problems, having finished 5-12, and they’ll likely solve one of them in the first round, perhaps by bringing in wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan. New Orleans has plenty of playmakers in place around its future quarterback: Alvin Kamara is still a solid dual-threat running back, even at the age of 29, and both Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed had solid seasons before suffering season-ending injuries. Spencer Rattler clearly isn’t the quarterback of the future, so the Saints could try developing Milroe behind Carr for a season instead. Plus, New Orleans is in a dire cap situation and could use a cost-controlled quarterback if Milroe fulfills his potential.
Los Angeles Rams – Los Angeles solved its quarterback question earlier today when it inked incumbent starter Matthew Stafford to a restructured contract, and while the terms of the deal haven’t been released, he was previously under contract only through the 2026 season. Regardless of the length, Stafford is 37 and could easily retire at the conclusion of the 2026 season. He’s been excellent over his four seasons with the Rams, but he started to show some signs of his age this season, and Los Angeles can reasonably claim that it was 13 yards away from a Super Bowl title. Its core pieces are young; Kyren Williams is 24, Puka Nacua is 23, and Jared Verse is 24. Milroe can take the reins in 2027 with a Super Bowl-ready roster around him.
