Can Seahawks flip dynamic QB Jalen Milroe into the subsequent dual-threat star?

Eric Williams

NFL Reporter

Seattle Seahawks GM John Schneider mentioned on the NFL Scouting Mix that in some unspecified time in the future the draft board would fall his method, creating the fitting time for his franchise to pick a quarterback.

Throughout his 15 years as Seattle’s high private man, Schneider had taken a QB simply twice: Russell Wilson within the third spherical of the 2012 draft and Alex McGough within the seventh spherical of the 2018 draft.

Nicely, on Friday night time, Schneider made it a 3rd time, deciding on Alabama product Jalen Milroe with the No. 92 total choice within the third spherical. An athletic dynamo who wants seasoning as a thrower, Milroe’s electrical skill as a runner probably reminds Seattle head coach Mike Macdonald of his time with two-time MVP Lamar Jackson when Macdonald was the defensive coordinator for the Baltimore Ravens.

Milroe, the fourth quarterback taken on this yr’s draft, had a pre-draft go to with the Seahawks. He has a protracted strategy to go earlier than he’s as environment friendly of a passer as Jackson. However Milroe ought to get that point to develop with new Seattle offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak.

The Seahawks have already got their beginning quarterback in Sam Darnold, whom they signed in free company to a three-year, $100.5 million deal that features $55 million in assured cash. Seattle additionally introduced again Drew Lock in free company to again up Darnold and have made final yr’s backup, Sam Howell, out there for a commerce.

Milroe carried out effectively at his professional day, working a 4.40-second 40-yard time, which might have been the quickest of any quarterback at this yr’s mix. He is an explosive athlete and arduous employee who confirmed management expertise at Alabama, and the Seahawks are taking an opportunity that they will enhance his accuracy points and throwing mechanics.

However Milroe’s superpower is his skill to make issues occur together with his ft. He completed his profession at Alabama with 1,577 speeding yards and 33 speeding touchdowns. He totaled 12 speeding touchdowns of 10-plus yards in his remaining season, probably the most by a quarterback up to now 25 years.

“He’s going to present the Seahawks a component of offense that no person else on this draft can provide anyone,” mentioned Nick Saban, Milroe’s former coach at Alabama. “This man’s quick, he’s explosive. And he can throw the ball. He’s an awesome deep-ball thrower. He simply wants some refinement and consistency within the passing recreation, and he might be an excellent participant.”

Wilson, the final quarterback chosen within the third spherical by Seattle, offered elusiveness and the power to make massive performs together with his ft from the quarterback place. With the success across the league of Jalen Hurts and different quarterbacks who can run, like Jayden Daniels and Josh Allen, Milroe provides one other dimension to a Seattle offense that wishes to get again to working the soccer.

“Take much less sacks, play on time and be me,” Milroe mentioned when requested by reporters to guage his recreation. “That’s the world of development in terms of being me. I’m not one-dimensional on the quarterback place.

“I’m a problem-solver. I’m a scholar of the sport and I really like soccer.”

Eric D. Williams has reported on the NFL for greater than a decade, masking the Los Angeles Rams for Sports activities Illustrated, the Los Angeles Chargers for ESPN and the Seattle Seahawks for the Tacoma Information Tribune. Comply with him on X at @eric_d_williams.

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