Jalen Milroe Receives Second Round Grade

Alabama’s Jalen Milroe is a cross between two NFL quarterbacks, Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson and Indianapolis’ Anthony Richardson.

Jackson is the two-time NFL MVP, and I put a fifth-round grade on Richardson and projected him to be a bust before the Colts ever selected him.

How’s that for a dichotomy?

I just can’t escape this uneasy feeling after marinating in Milroe’s games in 2024, especially the last three.

Biggest concerns about Milroe

Despite marked improvement in Milroe’s time to throw from 2023 (3.45 seconds) to 2024 (2.87 seconds) per Pro Football Focus, his process is just too damn methodical. From the huddle to throw ⎯the UMPH ⎯the sense of urgency isn’t there. His presence feels too relaxed, and now he’s headed into a faster league. He has a higher football IQ than I saw out of Richardson at Florida, but he doesn’t have that high energy level or the throwing whip Jackson showed at Louisville.

If left unchecked, Milroe naturally drifts into a slower process ⎯and that’s when things fall apart. Coaching tries to rein him back in and get him back into the groove, but the lulls are costly and take a noticeable toll on Milroe’s confidence level.

Milroe isn’t a natural quarterback, and it always comes back to that. However, he works at it, and he’s shown steady improvement. However, the propensity to fumble, throwing 11 interceptions, and having 17 additional passes (1.30 avg.) broken up, which I charted this season, doesn’t sit well with me.

Game planning headache

On the plus side, Milroe gives defenses a lot to prepare for. Between his rocket right arm and his explosive speed running the ball, adding Milroe is a recipe for big plays.

He’s also different from Richardson because Milroe looks to pass first and run second and it was just the opposite for Richardson.

Milroe loves to throw deep +20 yards (19/44 = 43.2%), and he can change his mind from running to passing in the blink of an eye, which forces defenders to stay true to their coverage. Add in the occasional strike at the intermediate route level (11-19 yards) and his being harder to sack (23) and all of it combined presents a unique challenge.

He will have his moments.

NFL projection

It’s distinctly possible Milroe becomes a bottom-tier starter (ranking between No. 16 and No. 32 QBR) who will not see a second contract with the team that selects him.

It helps Milroe is from a structured background and has parents who serve in the United States Military.

I just can’t talk myself into going any higher than this. It doesn’t feel right. Over the past three seasons, I’ve vacillated between a first and a fifth-round grade and this is where I’m landing.

#4 Jalen Milroe 6-foot-2, 225 pounds

Daniel Kelly’s 2025 Final NFL Draft Grade: Second-Round (I would select him)

Projected by 43.2% of the NFL Draft Community to be a first-round pick as of January 4, 2025 (nflmockdraftdatabase.com)

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

Miami Dolphins to Target Alabama QB Jalen Milroe First Round (2023: 6 games evaluated)

Jalen Milroe 3.45 Second Time To Throw (2023: 7 games evaluated)

2024 game film evaluated: Western Kentucky, USF, Wisconsin, Georgia, Vanderbilt, South Carolina, Tennessee, Missouri, LSU, Mercer, Oklahoma, Auburn, and Michigan (click to view games watched to form this evaluation)

2024 stats: 205/319 (64.3%), 2,844 yards, 16 TD, 11 INT, 23 sacks

2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report

Athletic dual threat with a strong arm and average accuracy. Mature beyond his years. Consistently attacks downfield. Works the whole field. Poised. Tough. Patient. Keeps eyes downfield. Comfortable in the pocket. Good escapability. Can move and reset the pocket. Tends to eat sacks when there’s no alternative. Some improv. Inconsistent progressions. Freezes up sometimes reading coverage. Average decision-making. Tends to pat the ball pre-delivery. Throws with average anticipation. Uses more upper than lower-body throwing. Human slingshot motion. Pushes the ball downfield. Higher release point. Average placement. Misses tend to sail high or be overthrown. Being behind on the scoreboard doesn’t affect him. A shifty runner with vision, acceleration, and burst. Flashed spin and stiff arm. Good job keeping himself from being hit on the move.

Final words

Milroe is a dynamic runner going into a passing league.

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, and has written for Sports Illustrated (Lions, Jets, and 49ers), NFL Draft Diamonds, and Yardbarker, as well as a featured guest on ESPN Radio and Fox Sports Radio. For more information about him visit his website at whateverittakesbook.com. Follow on Twitter @firstroundmock.