I’m going to step away from the glass-half-empty perspective I’ve had on Jalen Milroe. At least for a little while. The fact is, we still don’t have all that much to go on regarding the Seattle Seahawks’ rookie. However, based on what he is showing thus far, there’s reason to be optimistic.
Those watching Milroe throw over the last few days have been universal in their praise. Accuracy is one of the major concerns in the Alabama star’s game. Seeing him make a range of quality throws, both with touch and with zip, is very encouraging.
And hearing reports from coaches about how the rookie goes about his business is even better. Milroe has been showing up early, asking questions, and keeping a positive attitude. In short, he is doing everything you want a young player to do. So, even though I remain cautious, I have to admit that he has a very good chance of proving me, and all his other doubters, wrong.
But we still should not expect it to happen this year.
How good can rookie Seahawks quarterback Jalen Milroe be?
There are two major caveats to Milroe’s early performances in camp. The first is backup-QB syndrome. You’ve seen it before. It usually hits epidemic proportions in preseason, but the onset can come as early as minicamp.
Sam Darnold has been struggling to move the offense in some situational drills. By and large, Jalen Milroe has not. The offense looks good when he has been running it. (Not surprisingly, no one is weighing in on how things look with Drew Lock under center.
Gridiron epidemiologists all know that backup-QB syndrome is more virulent when dealing with the third-string QB, and not the second-teamer.)
The obvious caution here is that Darnold is throwing passes against Devon Witherspoon. Milroe, against Tyler Hall. No offense to Hall, who has a decent chance of making the roster this year. But six months ago, Spoon was lining up against Justin Jefferson, while Hall hasn’t seen an NFL field since Christmas Day, 2023.
More importantly, the questions about Milroe’s accuracy don’t center on his arm. Everyone acknowledges his arm talent. His problems have come when he has to make throws in real game conditions.
It begins with processing and proceeds to technique. Will he be comfortable enough making quick reads to maintain his technique and deliver accurate throws? No one functions at their best when they are harried.
This is not a knock on Milroe. Virtually every young quarterback has to go through this learning process. Prodigies like Joe Burrow and Jayden Daniels are the exceptions. They raise expectations for everyone. But at the risk of beating a dead horse, we have to remember that Jalen Milroe played in 38 college games and threw 663 passes. Fairly typical numbers.
Jayden Daniels played 55 college games and attempted 1,438 passes. You don’t have to be Klint Kubiak to figure out who is entering the league at a higher level.
Milroe might just be in the perfect place to evolve. Darnold is the starter, and barring catastrophe, that is not changing in 2025. (Think injury, or maybe Kirk Cousins.) And Lock is probably the primary backup in the event of injury.
But Milroe will play. He’ll get a chance to dip his toes, develop a feel for the speed of the NFL. He will have specific packages designed to take advantage of his strengths and get more comfortable.
In practice, he will address the processing and mechanical issues that are currently limiting him. And he may well shine. Andrew Janocko is a young quarterback coach who has earned the trust of Kubiak. It is difficult for outsiders to gauge how vital the relationship between QB and QB coach has become in the NFL.
But it’s no surprise that Mike Macdonald moved on from three significant offensive assistants after last year. Offensive coordinator, offensive line coach, and quarterback coach. Based on how totally overwhelmed last year’s backup, Sam Howell, appeared, we can only hope that Janocko represents an upgrade.
A year from now, we should have a much clearer sense of whether Jalen Milroe is the next Patrick Mahomes or Jalen Hurts – quarterbacks who served apprenticeships for much of their rookie seasons, before blossoming into elite players.
Or will he be another in a long line of talented young QBs who enter the league with limited experience and never be able to make all that much progress? The NFL is a cutthroat environment in which to learn the game. Ask Justin Fields, Zach Wilson, or Anthony Richardson. The list goes on.
Fortunately, the early reports on Milroe are glowing, and that’s really all you can ask for at this point.