Miami Dolphins to Target Alabama QB Jalen Milroe First Round

I love Alabama quarterback (QB) Jalen Milroe who is a red-shirt sophomore eligible for the 2024 NFL Draft.

He has developed quickly on game film from 2022 to 2023.

I’ve gone from putting a fifth-round grade on him off his 2022 game film to moving him to my first-round ‘watch list,’ in an Aug. 4 article (after seeing his Spring game) to falling even deeper in love with him after the Middle Tennessee State opener.

A scout has to rely on instincts and for the last two weeks it kept going through my mind that I have to evaluate Milroe off his 2023 game film.

From the first time I studied Milroe he reminded me of one of my favorite QBs, Deshaun Watson, and now even ESPN is drawing comparisons between Milroe’s game and former NFL QB Michael Vick.

Bryce Young and Jalen Hurts

Turns out, Milroe is really close to these two. Of course, Hurts played at Alabama once upon a time before transferring to Oklahoma and going second-round to the Eagles (2020) and Young went No. 1 overall in the 2023 NFL Draft to the Panthers.

“I asked Jalen MIlroe if he talks to any former Alabama QBs to gain perspective, and he told me he talks with Bryce Young and Jalen Hurts multiple times a week. He described Jalen Hurts as a big brother [and] Bryce as his homie,” according to CBS Sports reporter Jenny Dell. “Of course, they have incredible insight about the game, but they are also just guys he can talk with about everything. Bryce Young’s advice to Milroe, ‘Stay calm, cool, and collected and always fall back on your level of training.'”

Impressive leader

At a time Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders and USC QB Caleb Williams continuously are sticking their foot in their mouth, all Milroe does is impress.

Here is Milroe post-game taking accountability with humility, while lifting up his teammates. This kind of leadership is what NFL teams are looking for.

Why the Dolphins?

I could literally see Milroe wearing a Dolphins uniform in my mind’s eye in his game against Arkansas.

Both Dolphins’ QBs Tua Tagovailoa and Mike White’s contracts are set to expire in 2025 and while I love Tagovailoa and like White, Miami is in the perfect position to bring in another dynamic talent like Milroe and let him further develop.

Milroe is not ready to step in on day one and be a franchise QB.

He needs to fine-tune his footwork and get the ball out of his hands consistently faster. I am going out on a limb on this one, by faith because of how I’ve seen Milroe progressing.

Dolphins Head Coach Mike McDaniel would know how to do this or simply tailor the offense around Milroe because he’s not a classic three-step and fire QB. He’s best using his elite athleticism to make defenses adjust to him.

Milroe is the perfect first-round luxury pick for the Dolphins at the end of the first-round, and Tagovailoa would be the perfect mentor.

#4 Jalen Milroe 6-foot-2, 220 pounds

Daniel Kelly’s Fall 2023 Grade: First-Round (I would select him)

Projected by 0.5% of the NFL Draft Community to be a first-round pick as of October 20, 2023 (nflmockdraftdatabase.com)

2022 games evaluated (8 games): Jalen Milroe Raw NFL Prospect

2023 game film reviewed: Middle Tennessee State, Texas, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Texas A&M, and Arkansas (click to view games watched to form this evaluation)

2022 stats: 31/53 (58.5%), 297 yards, 5 TD, 3 INT, 4 sacks, long-35

2023 stats to date: 85/132 (64.4%), 1,397 yards, 11 TD, 4 INT (6 pass breakups), 26 sacks, long-79

Note: Currently ranks No. 4 in college football yards per throw average.

2024 NFL Draft Scouting Report

Strong-armed muscular sturdy framed dual-threat with inconsistent mechanics. Physical and aggressive nature. Struggles to drop back and consistently release quickly. Prefers to use athleticism to slide around in the pocket to find receivers or take off. Flashes dynamic playmaking ability. Throws an easy ball to catch. Big arm. Doesn’t need to rely on footwork. Tends to throw best from a wider base and struggles more from a narrow throwing base. Decent ball security. Inconsistent short-to-intermediate. Sweet deep-ball touch. Elusive running threat with acceleration and can stiff arm. Tough guy. Doesn’t believe in sliding.

What to watch for the rest of the season

1. How does he look throwing short-to-intermediate

2. Consistently throwing from a wide base?

3. High confidence level?

4. Remains injury-free?

Daniel Kelly is a former NFL Scout with the New York Jets. He was hired on the regime which featured Bill Parcells, Bill Belichick, Scott Pioli, Mike Tannenbaum, and Dick Haley. He is currently the Editor-in-Chief for First Round Mock, contributes at Yardbarker, and has written for Sports Illustrated Lions, Jets, and 49ers, as well as a featured guest on ESPN Radio and Fox Sports Radio. For more information about him visit his website at whateverittakesbook.com. Twitter @firstroundmock.