Is Jalen Milroe's stock falling ahead of 2025 NFL Draft?

While NFL Media's Chad Reuter and ESPN's Ben Solak previously raised some eyebrows when they predicted that Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe will fall to the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft, the fact that Milroe accepted an invitation to attend the draft understandably caused many to believe individuals within the league think he ultimately will be a first-round choice. 

However, ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. and Field Yates shared in their latest mock draft published on Tuesday that they also think Milroe will be on the board into the draft's third round until the Pittsburgh Steelers move up from overall pick No. 83 to No. 68 to grab him. 

Milroe's draft stock has been a moving target from the time he allegedly failed to impress teams during Senior Bowl week up until it was mentioned in late March that the Steelers could select him at overall pick No. 21. Pittsburgh more recently has been linked with Colorado's Shedeur Sanders amid reports suggesting he could fall to the Steelers before they make him the second quarterback drafted on April 24. 

If Sanders slides to pick No. 21 and Ole Miss' Jaxson Dart subsequently stays on the board through the end of the first round, that seemingly would show that teams agree with analysts who have pointed out since this past winter that the 2025 quarterback draft class is quite weak even though the Tennessee Titans are on track to make Miami's Cam Ward the first choice of the player-selection process. 

Milroe is widely viewed as a project for the future who shouldn't face a live defense in a meaningful game as a first-choice QB1 before September 2026, at the earliest, because he needs to spend time working with pro coaches who will be tasked with improving his throwing mechanics. 

According to Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk, Milroe was the only player scheduled to attend the draft who was viewed as a betting underdog (+120 odds at DraftKings Sportsbook) to be a first-round pick as of Tuesday morning. 

At this point, it seems like Milroe should wait until at least this coming weekend before he finalizes any draft-related travel plans. 

"He looks like a good bet to be the last player in the green room in Green Bay," Smith said about Milroe.