Rookie Jalen Milroe will call the Pacific Northwest home for the next four seasons. With the 92nd overall pick, the Seattle Seahawks selected the former University of Alabama quarterback. The 2023 Heisman sixth-place finisher aims to eventually fill the void left by Geno Smith and, before him, Russell Wilson. How will the skills he demonstrated in Tuscaloosa, Ala., translate to the NFL?
How Old Is Jalen Milroe? Exploring the Seahawks’ Rookie
During his 38-game career at Alabama, Milroe enjoyed fantastic success as the Tide’s signal caller. In 27 starts, the Houston native went 21-6 at the helm. Milroe threw for 6,016 yards and 45 touchdowns, connecting on 64.3% of his passes. In addition, the William Campbell Trophy winner added 1,577 yards and 33 rushing scores.
Milroe will turn 23 years old on December 13, 2025. He spent four seasons in college, including a redshirt campaign.
When the Seattle Seahawks drafted him in the third round, they appeared to have the intention of developing him, first as a backup. On March 13, the team inked veteran quarterback Sam Darnold to a three-year, $100.5 million deal.
As a result of the short-term contract, the window for Milroe’s possible ascension to eventual starter remains open. Behind Darnold, Seattle has Milroe and veteran Drew Lock. As a result, Milroe is expected to see an abundance of preseason snaps as the team gets him ready to eventually be the starter.
Milroe’s Scouting Report
The Seahawks’ rookie is a pure athlete, possessing excellent speed and a cannon for an arm. “Top to bottom, there may not be a 2025 QB prospect with a ceiling as high,” said PFSN’s Ian Cummings.
“He’s an elite athlete and a dynamic running threat at 6’2″, 217 pounds, and he has a rocket launcher attached to his right shoulder. He’ll also check boxes as a leader and competitor. Despite all this, Milroe wasn’t able to put it all together in college. His mechanics are trending up. His accuracy and operational efficiency could follow suit.”
Luckily, Seattle doesn’t want the rookie to walk in and start on Day 1. Instead, quarterbacks coach Andrew Janocko, who previously worked with Justin Fields in Chicago, will slowly change the rookie’s approach, transforming him from an athlete who plays quarterback to an athletic quarterback. That nuance makes all the difference in the world.
Milroe is even a better athlete than Fields, and he arguably possesses a firmer grasp of the offense. The team will not force-feed the rookie or push him to start earlier. By nature of the third-round selection, Milroe receives a reprieve. Plus, Milroe currently sports a chip on his shoulder.
“No matter where I was drafted, I still have to come in and prove myself and earn the trust and respect of guys in the locker room,” Milroe said to Sports Illustrated after the draft. “So, it wasn’t a necessity to hear my name called early on or later on. It didn’t really matter to me. It was more to hear my name called because I know that team is all on me, and they saw something in me that other teams didn’t.”
The rookie delivered a three-word statement as a message to the teams that overlooked him: “Belt to a**.”
In essence, that sums up the mindset of a player with something to prove.
