Jalen Milroe sat in the green room for longer than most who attended the 2025 NFL Draft.
The Alabama product was invited to Green Bay to take part in draft day festivities, bumping shoulders with Cam Ward, Travis Hunter and a dozen or so other talents slated to have the next steps of their gridiron careers revealed to them on Thursday night.
But unlike his colleagues, Milroe's future remains to be decided. 32 picks came and went during the first round of the draft. All 32 passed Milroe by.
With a howitzer of an arm and legs that evoke fear in opposition defenders' hearts, there's plenty going for Milroe as he readies for the chance to climb the NFL ladder.
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But there's also plenty of uncertainty surrounding the 22-year-old. For all his intrigue, Milroe's game has plenty of inconsistencies that could keep front offices away.
Milroe is an athletic marvel who looks destined to get a chance at the NFL level.
But where? Here's the latest on Milroe's draft prospects after the Crimson Tide alum fell out of the first round in Day 1.
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Where will Jalen Milroe be drafted?
Milroe remains an enigma among draft prospects. He's young, a gifted athlete and sports a lively arm, albeit without the accuracy and timing one would hope out of a first-day starter.
His ceiling is limitless, particularly if he can refine his footwork and vision. But that's a big if — Milroe regressed as a deep ball thrower in 2024 and has more than a few bad habits that could limit his viability as an every-down hurler going forward.
Milroe's physical gifts are certain to draw big-league interest. The potential he possesses makes him nigh on certain to be drafted, with the second or third round looking the most likely place for him to land.
The best-case scenario for Milroe appears to be landing in a situation similar to that of another Alabama alum: Eagles star Jalen Hurts. Like Milroe, Hurts entered the 2020 NFL Draft with question marks hanging over his head. He was a hulking presence in the open field whose throwing traits left something to be desired.
In the end, Hurts landed in Philadelphia, spending his rookie season largely out of the spotlight — save a four-game spell at the end of the year. The Eagles built a roster catered to Hurts' strengths in the seasons to come. And Hurts rounded out some of the finer points of his game. Now, he's a Super Bowl MVP, two-time Pro Bowler and $255 million man.
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Whether such an opportunity exists for Milroe remains to be seen. But any side that expresses interest in obtaining his services must know that there's work to be done before Milroe becomes an NFL-caliber thrower of the ball.
Here are some of the more prominent scouting reports on Milroe's NFL prospects.
Milroe is an explosive athlete who is very capable outside the pocket, but he lacks accuracy, touch and decision-making when he’s inside the pocket. A lack of anticipation and timing leads to interceptions and contested throws to intermediate areas of the field. He has an NFL arm, but he might need to fine-tune his footwork and delivery to improve accuracy on all three levels. He can get through his reads when he’s confident and feels protected but becomes predictable and easier for defenses to manipulate when he’s rattled.
Milroe is unpolished as a passer, both physically and mentally, but he is a dynamic athlete with a unique blend of speed, arm strength and intelligence, making him an intriguing developmental option for a patient coaching staff. His upside is tough to measure, but it is higher considering he has the tools to switch positions if his time at quarterback doesn’t pan out.
He's got a big arm and he's dynamically explosive as a runner and he's got a physical presence. When he runs, he almost looks like an old-school fullback with dynamic speed. He certainly has the arm strength, he has an aggressive throwing mentality. He just doesn't really have the nuance and the subtlety as pocket passer with the footwork and the vision, the timing, the anticipation, to consistently pick apart a defense. He doesn't have that right now.
Here's where he's projected to land in several Day 2 mock drafts.
- TSN: Round 3, Pick No. 98 to Dolphins
- The Athletic: Round 2, Pick No. 42 to Jets
- NFL.com: Round 2, Pick No. 40 to Saints
- ESPN: Round 2, Pick No. 46 to Rams
- CBS Sports: Round 2, Pick No. 50 to Seahawks
Jalen Milroe college stats
Milroe flashed his considerable dual-threat talents during a four-year spell in Tuscaloosa, the last two of which he spent starting. For his efforts, he was rewarded with a spot on the All-SEC second-team in 2023.
Here's a look at the numbers behind his four-year odyssey with the Crimson Tide:
| Year | Games | Comp-Att (Comp%) | Pass Yds | Pass TDs | INTs | Rush Yds | Rush TDs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 4 | 3-7 (42.9) | 41 | 1 | 0 | 57 | 0 |
| 2022 | 8 | 31-53 (58.5) | 297 | 5 | 3 | 263 | 1 |
| 2023 | 13 | 187-284 (65.8) | 2,834 | 23 | 6 | 531 | 12 |
| 2024 | 13 | 205-319 (64.3) | 2,844 | 16 | 11 | 726 | 20 |
| Total | 38 | 426-663 (64.3) | 6,016 | 45 | 20 | 1,577 | 33 |
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