Jalen Milroe sounds warning for teams that bypassed him in the NFL Draft

Jalen Milroe had a message on Friday night for the teams that let the Alabama quarterback stay available in the NFL Draft until the Seattle Seahawks took him at No. 92.

“Belt to ass,” Milroe said.

But it might be a while before Milroe can administer those whuppings.

The Seahawks took Milroe in the third round on Friday night and added him to a roster that already had four quarterbacks. At the top of the depth chart is Sam Darnold. Seattle signed the No. 2 pick in the 2018 NFL Draft after he resurrected his career with the Minnesota Vikings in 2024.

After trading QB Geno Smith to the Las Vegas Raiders, the Seahawks signed Darnold to a three-year, $100.5 million contract in March. Darnold earned a Pro Bowl invitation last season, when he led the Vikings to a 14-3 regular-season record and threw for 4,319 yards and 35 touchdowns.

“We don’t use patience a lot around here,” Seattle coach Mike Macdonald said, “but there’s always going to be an urgency in how we’re developing our players and how we’re training them, and Jalen’s going to be right there with everybody else. But, yeah, I mean, Sam’s going to take, by far and away, over 90 percent of our snaps this year, and whatever, however Jalen deserves and earns the right to go out there, then we’ll do that if it’s going to help the team, it’s best for us to move the ball and give these defensive coordinators some headaches. I’m really happy it’s not going to be us, so that’s awesome.

“I don’t want to put a timetable on it, but, yeah, it’s not an immediate need for him to go out there and be taking a bunch of snaps for us initially.”

Milroe became the third quarterback chosen by John Schneider in his 16 drafts as Seattle’s general manager. He took Russell Wilson in the third round in 2012 and Alex McGough in the seventh round in 2018. Wilson became a nine-time Pro Bowler and a Super Bowl champion with the Seahawks. McGough became the USFL MVP and a USFL champion with the Birmingham Stallions.

“He’s an incredible athlete,” Schneider said of Milroe. “Very, very fast. I think, literally, it’s 21.2 (mph) or something like that -- his GPS speed. But hard worker. And he’s the William Campbell Award, like academic Heisman award, winner. He’s had four different offensive coordinators, worked his tail off. His mom’s former Navy. Dad’s a Marine. He came in on a visit. He had a really great visit. And he was in a spot and he just kept coming, and he was there by himself. …

“He’s a unique, special, special kid, special athlete, special kid, special young man. And we’re going to develop him as a quarterback. But with that, you know, he can add something special as we go.”

Macdonald said he thought offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak could find a use for Milroe’s special talents. In addition to throwing for 2,844 yards and 16 touchdowns for Alabama in 2024, Milroe ran for 726 yards and 20 touchdowns.

“One of the reasons we hired (Kubiak) was his ability to incorporate the whole roster and really bring out what everybody does really well,” Macdonald said. “So adding Jalen’s a part of that. And the ability to kind of employ everyone and bring the best out of all the players is really exciting, so that’s how it fits.

“I mean, we’re going to be running Klint’s offense, and Jalen’s going to fit right in. And when he’s in there, we’re going to be doing the stuff that he does great, just like we will when Sam’s leading the charge. So, yeah, it’s going to be a lot of fun.”

But Macdonald said Seattle did not plan to turn Milroe into a Swiss Army knife in the style of Taysom Hill with the New Orleans Saints. Kubiak worked with Hill as the Saints’ passing-game coordinator last season.

“The way they used him was more like in a tight end, fullback, hybrid role with sometimes taking snaps,” Macdonald said. “Jalen’s a quarterback through and through. He’s going to be trained to play quarterback for us, and when he’s in there, he’s going to be playing quarterback. But the athleticism is going to come to life when he’s on the field, and that’s how he’s going to help us.”

Milroe said he hopes to be able to compete.

“I’m coming in to learn -- learn, grow, and bring nothing but positive vibes to the offense and fulfilling all that as a necessity with my role on the team,” Milroe said. “So, of course, once I get there, I’ll understand my niche, for sure. But ideally I’m competing -- no matter what day it is, no matter how many reps I get -- competing for the opportunities that present themselves at the quarterback position.”

Despite the wait, Milroe said he thought he made a good landing in the draft.

“I know going into this process, my ultimate goal was to hear my name called, and I was able to hear that today,” Milroe said, “so it’s definitely a dream come true. You know, the best thing about it, I would gather with family throughout this whole process. It’s definitely a unique journey, for sure, not knowing where you can go. But it’s all about that right spot, and I know I’m in the right spot moving forward. …

“Right spot because I know this is a community of people that believe in me, that’s all in on me, and I felt that from the jump when I visited Seattle for my 30 visit and being around the coaching staff.”