Some NFL coaches and scouts are completely sold on former Alabama football quarterback Jalen Milroe. However, according to a report from the NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, some are taking an extremely opposite approach into the 2025 NFL Draft.
The report quotes an anonymous coordinator in the AFC, who claimed that Milroe’s departure prevented a transfer portal exodus in Tuscaloosa.
“He’s a 22 mph-on-the-ground guy,” the coach said according to the report. “He’s got a fastball that’s not very accurate. He doesn’t know when to take it off the ball. We heard out of Alabama all the skill [players] would’ve transferred if he came back. He wants to be known as a pocket quarterback and your best skill is you’re frickin’ fast.”
Milroe is attending the draft on Thursday in Green Bay, but is by no means a guaranteed first-round pick. Consensus among draft experts is that the Texas native could be the third quarterback off the board, behind Miami’s Cam Ward and Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders.
He spent the past two seasons as Alabama’s starter. Milroe’s arm strength and athleticism are his strengths entering the draft.
“He has a lot of accuracy issues,” the Pelissero story quotes another anonymous AFC coordinator as saying. “But he’s a freak. He’s the best running quarterback I’ve ever evaluated. He’s like Cam Newton’s power with Lamar’s speed. He can throw the ball down the field -- his numbers over 20 yards are good. And he’s a true developmental-type player. He’s electric.”
Milroe threw for 2,844 yards and 16 touchdowns last season, completing 64.3% of his throws, but also tossing 11 interceptions. He also rushed for 726 yards and another 20 touchdowns.
The upside is there for Milroe. The question during the draft will be whether the drawbacks scare teams off.
“This is the fastest guy on the G—--- field.” Pelissero quoted an NFL executive as saying. “He was outrunning angles. He’s just so f---ing erratic. He’s a smart enough kid, but not a fast processor. He’s into all these f---ing mental coaches. Has to see it open. Doesn’t have anticipation. He’s the typical big, rifle-armed f---er who throws everything f---ing hard and fast and will throw a good pass and then the next five, you don’t know where the f--- they’re going to end up.”
The NFL Draft is scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m. CT Thursday. It will be aired across ESPN’s networks and on the NFL Network.
