The Seattle Seahawks made one of the most intriguing picks of last week’s NFL Draft when they selected Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe in the third round at No. 92 overall.

Salk: Why QB Jalen Milroe could be biggest draft pick for Seahawks’ future

Milroe is likely a multi-year development project as an NFL quarterback, as he’ll need to make considerable strides as a passer before he can legitimately push Sam Darnold for the starting job in Seattle. But with big-time speed packed into a powerful 6-foot-2, 217-pound frame, Milroe has an explosive level of athleticism that makes him a tantalizing long-term prospect.

The general belief is that the Seahawks will create specialty packages to get Milroe on the field as a change of pace this fall.

During NFL Network insider Daniel Jeremiah’s weekly appearance on Seattle Sports’ Brock and Salk, however, he said he could envision a scenario where Milroe fills in for a couple games if Darnold goes down with an injury. It’s an interesting take, considering the Seahawks already have a proven backup behind Darnold in Drew Lock.

“I think Jalen Milroe’s gonna get a chance to start two or three games,” Jeremiah said. “The odds are your quarterback’s gonna get nicked up and he’s gonna miss some time. It’s a long season. And I understand he’s got a long ways to go in terms of his development as a passer. But he’s like the perfect skill set for such a thing.

“It’s like, hey, Sam needs a couple weeks, his ribs are messed up, we can run (Milroe) out there and we can just commit to his legs and that style of play for a couple weeks. You couldn’t run him out there for much more than that, because you’re gonna need more from him as a passer. But I think he can get you through a couple-game stretch (in) year one.”

Jeremiah said that type of situation could benefit Milroe’s long-term development.

“The hope is that breeds a little bit of confidence, and now you go into year two and you see how competitive he can be for that (starting) job,” Jeremiah said. “That to me is kind of the beginning liftoff. I just feel like you will see him for a game or two.”

The Milroe show. 🎥 pic.twitter.com/nSLkyBl8Mo

— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) April 26, 2025

Where Milroe needs to improve as a passer

As a passer, Milroe has NFL-level arm strength. But over the course of his Alabama career, both his accuracy and decision-making were inconsistent.

Milroe had a good season as a passer back in 2023, when he posted a 65.8% completion rate while throwing for 2,834 yards, 23 TDs and six interceptions.

But in 2024, Milroe took a step back. He still completed 64.3% of his passes for 2,844 yards, but threw just 16 TD passes and had 11 interceptions. He really struggled in SEC play, totaling just five TD passes and 10 interceptions in eight conference games.

What specifically does Milroe need to improve as a passer?

“The seam ball is the best throw that he makes,” Jeremiah said. “You can find some cut-ups of him just throwing seam balls. It looks great. Outside the numbers, the ball takes off. It’s all over the place. You’ll see issues with him locking out. You’ll see issues with him where his eyes and feet aren’t connected to each other, and that’s why you get some bad misses.

“To me, the biggest issue is just getting his eyes and feet to marry up and connect,” Jeremiah added. “That’s the biggest problem. But there are some throws that he’s comfortable with and that he makes.”

If Milroe doesn’t end up developing into an accurate passer, is there still a way to devise an offense centered around his unique skill set?

“I would be heavy (run-pass option),” Jeremiah said. “Lamar (Jackson), where he was most comfortable coming into the league was just RPOs and slants. Like, he could throw those all day long and get comfortable with that. And then on top of that, you’re gonna move him around.”

Listen to the full conversation with NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah at this link or in the audio player near the top of this story. Tune in to Brock and Salk weekdays from 6 to 10 a.m. or find the podcast on the Seattle Sports app.

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