Alabama's Jalen Milroe did unthinkable in pre-draft interview, doing what few ever do

Hunter Cookston

Alabama's Jalen Milroe did unthinkable in pre-draft interview, doing what few ever do image

The NFL Draft has come and gone, and now it's time for all 32 teams to shift their focus toward preparing for the regular season. As always, there were clear winners—teams that seemed to press all the right buttons—and others that did the exact opposite of what they needed to do.

One of the more puzzling moves came from the Cleveland Browns, who drafted two quarterbacks despite already having three on the roster. 

Arguably the most intriguing story from this year’s draft is Jalen Milroe. The former Alabama quarterback was projected to go anywhere from the first round to much later. There was even talk of him landing with the Steelers in the first round, but he ultimately fell to the Seattle Seahawks—who are clearly excited to have him.

“He can kill you in the first play, the second play, the third play. It’s not a fun existence to live consistently. He has that ability,” said Mike Macdonald.

Milroe’s name started gaining steam as the draft approached, but he ended up going roughly where many expected. What may have set him apart was his interview process. During a meeting, Milroe was asked about his weaknesses—and his response earned serious respect from Seattle’s front office. When asked if he was concerned about what he had just said, Milroe gave a jaw-dropping answer.

“You should be concerned with any guy who comes in this room, who hasn’t played a down of NFL football and doesn’t tell you he has weaknesses or that he isn’t working with them. Plus, it’s an insult because that means he doesn’t think you know how to watch film,” Milroe said.

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That kind of self-awareness is rare—especially from a young quarterback trying to impress NFL teams. It helped show that Milroe not only understands the game but also understands what it takes to succeed at the next level.

Hunter Cookston

Hunter Cookston began his career as a sportswriter for the Marion Tribune, where he covered local high school football, basketball and baseball. His passion for sports started at the age of four when he played his first year of tee ball. Growing up in Tennessee, he developed a deep love for the Tennessee Volunteers and Atlanta Braves. Hunter is currently attending Tennessee Wesleyan University, where he is pursuing a BA in Sports Communications/Management.