Step into Jalen Milroe’s shoes, and you will know how it feels right now going into the Draft. But you can’t do that, right? One moment, the guy is slipped into the oblivion of later-round picks, and the next moment, we see analysts praising him and touting him to be the next best thing. The case of Milroe is nothing short of Schrödinger’s cat in a box situation. You never know what you’re gonna get. A dead cat. An alive cat. A dual-threat RPO running cat. The only thing you can be certain about is being uncertain!
After taking over the duties of Alabama’s starting quarterback, things looked promising for Milroe. Started all the games last season and the season before that under Nick Saban. But there were still questions abound: When will the QB be hitting his ceiling? He produced close to 3,000 passing yards in both seasons and rushed for almost 1,300 yards. Still, concerns were going into the Draft that Milroe wouldn’t be fit for any particular system. But why so?
Because Milroe has immense arm talent and is one of the most explosive runners going into the Draft. He can make throws of 40+ yards quite accurately and efficiently. The QB is rated as having an impressive 95.8 PFF rating on deep throws. Yet, he is someone who struggles to find those ‘lay-up’ passes and short throws. His passing into the red zone is also quite appalling as he completed less than 50% of the passes in that zone. This is the reason why not many franchises have signified their intentions to draft him. However, now it seems there may be a suitor…
According to the latest post on X by JPAFootball, the Pittsburgh Steelers are particularly keen on drafting him. Even considering taking him in the first round itself. Colin Cowherd provided the news. “I talked to an NFL exec last night, very well-connected, and this is a keep your head on a swivel, Aaron Rodgers. I’m told the Steelers really like Jalen Milroe. Twenty-first pick, first round. So if Aaron signs with Pittsburgh, it’s gonna become Kirk Cousins. They’re taking a quarterback. If the 21st pick, Milroe’s not taken, Pittsburgh is leaning now and taking him.”
The #Steelers “really like” Alabama QB Jalen Milroe, so much so that they would consider drafting him in the first round, an NFL executive told Colin Cowherd.
This is including a scenario in which the team also signs Aaron Rodgers.
“I talked to an NFL exec last night, very… pic.twitter.com/hGjHqjr9ms
— JPAFootball (@jasrifootball) March 27, 2025
Well, the Steelers do have to sign a quarterback. They even met Milroe at the Senior Bowl and then at the NFL Combine. But this was more than just a simple meet and greet. The team even took Milroe to dinner one night before he was to perform in his Pro Day and are reported to have the player on their shortlist. The dots don’t even need to be connected from here, as the dinner would have likely involved more ‘film study’ than fried chicken.
Aaron Rodgers was cited to be one of the veterans the Steelers were to sign along with the Giants. But the Giants have now signed Russell Wilson, and the Steelers’ signing of Aaron Rodgers, 41, is still questionable. That leaves them with Milroe as the next best option. But he is not just a guy the Steelers are settling for, as they are likely to draft him with their 21st pick in the first round.
Kalen DeBoer sends a strong message to the NFL teams regarding Jalen Milroe
Ask Alabama HC Kalen DeBoer about Milroe, and you will know the type of player the Steelers will be getting. After a shaky season, it seems DeBoer is out there selling his QB to the public and the NFL scouts. In a recent video with the NFL Network, Kalen DeBoer expanded on Jalen Milroe’s abilities and how he could be a game-changer for franchises.
“I think it’s, it’s, continues to be more of the same. The ball comes off his hand really well… he threw with good accuracy again. You can throw to all levels of the field. The running piece, I think, speaks for itself because there’s so much that he’s shown on film over the last couple of years. When you’re the quarterback, it’s on another level here at Alabama. You know, he’s had the highs and the lows, and he’s had to stay the course and just continue to push through…”
What Milroe is offering to the franchises may be a wholesome and unique package in itself. His biggest strength is his running ability, which is evident from the fact that he clocked a 40-yard dash in just 4.37 seconds. His top speed is also otherworldly, as he ran at 22 miles per hour against Arkansas in 2024. Then comes his ability to deliver the ball in long distances with accuracy and dip. But, Milroe’s USP is his rushing ability. His performance against Georgia, where he ran 500 total yards, is a testament to that. All in all, Milroe is a special quarterback and would probably need a special setup to deliver and hit his peak.
That said, the odds look in favor of Milroe. But on an operational front, the question remains: Can the Pittsburgh Steelers and Mike Tomlin nurture Milroe to reach his peak?
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