Seahawks 2025 draft film study: Will the Jalen Milroe project work?

The Seahawks finally took a quarterback with potential to be a starter. Let’s look at the good and bad of Jalen Milroe.

Since Russell Wilson was traded to the Denver Broncos in 2022, there has been speculation that the Seattle Seahawks would draft a QB. The only investment made was a failed trade for Sam Howell, who was drafted by Washington in 2022. The day has finally come for the Seahawks to draft their QB.

In a highly contested class, the team selected Jalen Milroe, a QB who needs a lot of refinement as a passer, but who has a very high ceiling. Will he work out for the Seahawks?

Who is Jalen Milroe?

Jalen Milroe is the son of a military family and began his contact with football in Maryland, after his parents retired from the military. He was coached by his father in high school. Milroe arrived at college as a 4-star prospect, ranked one position ahead of Garrett Nussmeier, one of the good names at the position for the 2026 NFL Draft.

His first offer was from Texas State, but the invitations came in droves. Alabama, Florida, Florida State, Oregon, Texas A&M were some of the ones that offered him a scholarship. He accepted the offer from Texas, a team he really liked. However, when Quinn Ewers went to the Longhorns, Milroe changed his decision to Alabama, where he would replace Drake Maye who had changed his decision from Alabama to North Carolina.

Milroe graduated with honors, winning the 2024 William V. Campbell Trophy, which is considered the academic Heisman, joining Barrett Jones (2012) as the only Alabama players to achieve such an achievement. He is a recognized leader under Nick Saban, serving as a two-year captain. He finished his career with 426 completions of 663 attempts, 6,016 yards, 45 TDs, 20 INTs, 1,577 yards and 13 rushing TDs.

Milroe is part of a select group

The Seahawks used the 92nd pick in the third round, coming from the Geno Smith trade, to select quarterback Jalen Milroe. He is the third quarterback selected by John Schneider in 16 drafts. Russell Wilson in the third round (75th) in 2012 and Alex McGough (USFL MVP) in the seventh (220th) in 2018 are the others.

Alabama’s scheme did not maximize his qualities

He had a very difficult start to 2023, being benched and even becoming the third option. This did not shake him and in the following game he resumed the starting role and his numbers were so good that he was even considered among the Heisman finalists. In other words, Milroe ended 2023 on a high note and it was expected that this would continue in 2024.

However, with Kalen DeBoer as Head Coach of the Crimson Tide, there was a decline in the QB’s performance. Milroe is partly to blame for this, but clearly, DeBoer’s scheme was not adapted to what he had at his disposal.

Jake Haener, Michael Penix Jr., and Will Rogers were the coach’s style of QB who ran a passing-focused offense. While his rushing production increased, his TD:INT ratio plummeted.

• 2023: 187 of 284 for 28,334 yards, 23 TDs, and 6 INTs. 161 carries, 531 yards, and 12 TDs;
• 2024: 205 of 319 for 2,844 yards, 16 TDs, and 11 INTs. 168 carries, 726 yards, and 20 TDs;

Alabama failed to give Milroe opportunities on the move. He’s capable of getting his hips to the target and that could be used on bootlegs given his ability to threaten as a runner as well.

Jalen Milroe stats

2025 NFL Draft QB Scramble Rates:

• Riley Leonard – 11.2%;
• Jaxson Dart – 9.5%;
• Shedeur Sanders – 6.9%;
• Jalen Milroe – 6.5%;
• Cam Ward – 6.3%;
• Carson Beck – 5.3%;
• Kurtis Rourke – 4.7%;
• Dillon Gabriel – 4.5%;
• Kyle McCord – 2.3%

2025 QBs and their percentage of passes that go 10+ air yards:

• Drew Allar – 44.6%;
• Garrett Nussmeier – 42%;
• Jalen Milroe – 41.8%;
• Cam Ward – 40.7%;
• Carson Beck – 40.5%;
• Shedeur Sanders – 33.7%;
• Quinn Ewers – 27.3%;

2025 QBs and percentage of dropbacks they accounted for pressure on:

• Jaxson Dart – 11.4%;
• Will Howard – 11.5%;
• Jalen Milroe – 12.8%;
• Kyle McCord – 15.3%;
• Riley Leonard – 17.1%;
• Carson Beck – 18.5%;
• Dillon Gabriel – 18.8%;
• Cam Ward – 19.4%;
• Shedeur Sanders – 25.8%;

Where does Milroe need to improve?

Milroe on his self-assessment: “I have to take fewer sacks, play with rhythm, be myself. That’s the area of ​​growth when it comes to being myself. I’m not one-dimensional at quarterback. I’m a problem solver. I’m a student of the game and I love football.”

Taking unnecessary sacks

He holds the ball too long, manages to escape the first pressure and instead of getting rid of the ball, he holds it again and gets the sack.

Again with his eyes downfield and holding the ball too long. He doesn’t notice the pressure and fumbles (another problem is that his hands are small and that may have been the cause of his fumbles).

Slow game processing/decision making

It makes no sense for him to attempt this pass with the positioning of the CB and the safety. He didn’t get intercepted by detail. It is worth noting that he has been working with VR to improve his reads, similar to what was done with Jayden Daniels last year.

He does a good job manipulating the safeties deep in the field. However, especially in quick pass concepts, he faces the receiver and makes life easier for the defender.

The nickel wasn’t even marking that area, but when he reads the QB’s eyes, he leaves his zone and goes for the interception.

This pass has to leave your hand before the receiver’s route cuts. The NFL is a game that sometimes changes in milliseconds.

There are three defenders on top of Alabama’s two receivers. It doesn’t make sense for Milroe to spend so much time looking at that part of the field. He goes back to the checkdown long after he gets a good gain. But, notice that Wisconsin pressured him with only 3 defenders, giving him time that he normally wouldn’t have, especially in the NFL.

Mechanics

One of the problems with QBs who have very strong arms is that they think they can do everything with just their arms and end up being sloppy with their mechanics. The pass requires torque from the torso and the feet to be positioned correctly, it is a complete set. In this play, Milroe is completely off base and is an expensive example of how poor mechanics can lead to a QB missing an easy pass.

It is worth noting that Milroe worked with Jordan Palmer (Carson Palmer’s brother), mainly on lower body mechanics. Palmer had previously worked with Sam Darnold.

Why believe in Milroe’s potential?

Works under pressure

Speed ​​to gain time in the pocket, escapes pressure and finds a way out.

Pocket collapsing around him, he stands firm, moves, navigates between his progressions and makes the pass.

Even with the threat of a fierce hit, Milroe holds the ball until the last moment to make a beautiful pass, which was not affected by the pressure.

Potential as a runner

Some QBs are just fast and when they escape they have good running ability. However, Milroe, in addition to being a good athlete, knows how to read the gaps, wait for the blocks to happen, being a real threat as a runner.

This ability as a runner is something fundamental for Milroe. For example, he can be used in red zone situations with zone reads, runs designed for him. In other words, he can gain game experience while being honed in other areas as a passer.

Zone read, he gets the ball, makes a good read and makes the cut to break a tackle and reach the end zone. What I mean is that he can still help Seattle offensively, even if he only has a few snaps as a runner. It’s a difference for QBs who really have to wait 100% of the time on the bench.

Arm strength

He realizes that the corner route will be free given the movement of the defense. However, what draws attention is the strength of his arm to send a missile into the corner of the end zone.

He doesn’t have room to advance in the pocket and even with the pressure coming, he manages to make a very strong pass on the sideline.

Works well between his progressions, understands the coverage and is able to place a pass in conditions for the WR to keep the run to the end zone.

Manipulating safety

Despite some difficulty in manipulating the defenders underneath, Milroe does a better job against the safeties who take care of the backfield. In this play, the corner and the safety take care of the first route and open space for the later wheel route. Excellent work by the QB.

Final Thoughts

I believe the Jalen Milroe draft was a win-win situation. Seattle took a chance on the QB with the highest ceiling in the class with only a third-round pick. Milroe landed on a team where he doesn’t need to be a starter and can have time to fix his mechanics and progression issues, while Sam Darnold is the starter for the next two years. If it doesn’t work out, Seattle spent “only” a third-round pick, which is not much for a QB. If it works out, Seattle would get its franchise QB again for only a third-round pick.