Mike Macdonald isn’t saying exactly how the Seahawks will split up quarterback snaps in the preseason, but his answer made one thing feel pretty clear: Jalen Milroe should get a real chance to show more than he did a year ago.
Seattle’s quarterback room makes the decision a little trickier than usual. Sam Darnold sits atop the depth chart, Drew Lock is the veteran behind him, and Milroe is currently listed as the No. 3 quarterback. That setup leaves Milroe with an uncertain path to playing time, but the preseason could still end up being his best - and maybe only - window to get meaningful reps.
“We’re working through that right now. I think we might take a little bit of a different approach this year on how we play our quarterbacks,” Macdonald said.
“But Drew needs a lot of game work as well. Everybody needs work.
So how do you do it? Even Sam.”
Macdonald didn’t spell out a rotation, but the tone suggested Seattle may be more willing to lean on Milroe than it was last preseason. In 2025, he was the most-used quarterback over the team’s three preseason games, throwing 39 passes compared with Lock’s 34 and Darnold’s 4. He also ran 15 times, while Lock had 5 rushing attempts.
That usage pattern could repeat, though Macdonald’s comments leave room for Darnold to get more work too. Still, the basic logic points toward Milroe being the quarterback who most needs the preseason to matter.
Darnold is the starter, and starters often get only a small sample of throws in August, especially when the offense is largely the same as it was last season. Milroe is the one who needs snaps to prove he has taken a step forward and can be trusted as more than a developmental option.
The stakes for Milroe stretch beyond this month, too. Seattle has a lot of draft picks in the 2027 draft and some appealing quarterback prospects are expected to be available.
If Milroe doesn’t show growth this season, the Seahawks could be tempted to look elsewhere for a developmental backup. For now, though, he remains the third-string quarterback, which makes the preseason his clearest audition.
If the Seahawks decide to stay committed to Sam Darnold long term next offseason, the whole discussion could lose some urgency. But right now, Milroe’s future in Seattle appears tied to what he does in preseason action this month, and Macdonald sounds ready to give him that shot.
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