Mar 1, 2025; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe (QB11) during the 2025 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Former NFL QB praises Seahawks rookie Jalen Milroe's throwing ability

Originally posted on Seattle Seahawks on SI
By Matt Urben | Last updated May 12, 2025 1:00 PM ET

The Seattle Seahawks signed Sam Darnold to a three-year, $100.5 million contract at the start of the offseason, but there's no guarantee he will be the team's long-term starter going forward. In the third round of the 2025 NFL draft, the Seahawks added former Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe.

Darnold will likely start for Seattle this season, however, Milroe has the tools to eventually be a starting quarterback in this league. The team held its rookie minicamp over the weekend and Milroe impressed with his arm.

While the dual-threat QB rushed for more touchdowns (20) than he passed for (16) last season, his passing ability doesn't get nearly enough credit. Milroe's arm caught the eye of former NFL quarterback Kurt Benkert.

"But I thought he couldn't throw," Benkert wrote in social media post while sharing a video of Milroe passing at rookie minicamp.

But I thought he couldn’t throw pic.twitter.com/tipY7C68TE
— Kurt Benkert (@KurtBenkert) May 12, 2025

Leading up to the 2025 NFL draft, Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders were the only quarterbacks that anyone seemed to talk about. While Ward went first overall in the draft, as expected, Sanders fell to the fifth round.

Many were shocked to see Milroe go ahead of Sanders, but the former Crimson Tide standout made sense as a developmental backup in Seattle. Some have deemed him a gadget player, but that would be massively undervaluing his ability as a passer.

In 2024, Milroe earned a Pro Football Focus deep passing grade of 93.1 and intermediate grade of 90.7. These marks are comparable with Ward, Sanders and Jaxson Dart. PFF was high on MIlroe leading up to the draft, praising his physical gifts as the best of any QB in the draft.

"Milroe is the most physically gifted quarterback in the 2025 draft class, but he is still far too inconsistent in when and how he delivers the football," PFF explained. "In a perfect world, he would be drafted with a plan to let him sit and develop."

It's hard to imagine a better fit for Milroe than in Seattle where he can sit behind Darnold and work on becoming a more consistent passer.

This article first appeared on Seattle Seahawks on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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