Jalen Milroe’s Quiet Rookie Year Raises Questions About Seahawks’ QB Plans
When the Seahawks entered the 2025 season, they clearly had a vision for their quarterback room. Sam Darnold was the starter, Drew Lock was the experienced backup, and rookie Jalen Milroe was the wild card - a third-round pick with elite athleticism and the potential to add a dynamic wrinkle to the offense. There was talk of versatility, of gadget packages, of Milroe being a change-of-pace threat who could keep defenses guessing.
But that vision never really materialized.
Milroe saw the field in three of Seattle’s first five games, but his role was extremely limited - and the results didn’t help his case. He wasn’t asked to throw a single pass.
Instead, he was used exclusively as a runner, logging just three carries for a total of four yards. The most notable moment of his brief stint came in Week 5 against Tampa Bay, and unfortunately for Milroe, it was the kind of play that sticks in a coach’s mind - for the wrong reasons.
Midway through a promising drive, Milroe attempted a pitch to running back Zach Charbonnet. It was off-target, the ball bounced high, and the Buccaneers pounced on the fumble.
Just like that, the drive was dead - and so, effectively, was Milroe’s involvement in the offense. He hasn’t taken another snap since.
It’s hard to ignore what that says about where the Seahawks stand on their young quarterback. For a third-round pick, especially one with Milroe’s athletic upside, to be mothballed this early in his career is telling. The coaching staff - led by first-year head coach Mike Macdonald and offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak - clearly doesn’t trust him to run even a limited package right now, let alone operate as a backup or future starter.
And with Darnold under contract through 2027 and Lock signed through 2026, the road ahead for Milroe looks steep. He’s currently slotted as QB3, and barring a significant leap in development this offseason, that’s likely where he’ll stay. The Seahawks are in win-now mode, and there’s little room for developmental projects at the quarterback position - especially ones who haven’t shown they can handle even basic game responsibilities.
Coming out of Alabama, Milroe was seen by many draft analysts as a high-ceiling, low-floor prospect. His athleticism was never in question.
His arm strength was real. But the concerns about accuracy and decision-making were just as real - and those concerns are exactly what have kept him on the sidelines.
The reality is this: in today’s NFL, a quarterback has to do more than just run. You have to be able to stand in the pocket, read defenses, and deliver the ball on time. So far, Milroe hasn’t been given the chance to prove he can do that - and the fact that Seattle hasn’t even tried suggests they don’t believe he’s ready.
That brings us to the bigger-picture question: was Milroe the right pick in the third round?
It’s fair to wonder if the Seahawks missed an opportunity to address a more immediate need. Eight picks after Milroe came off the board, the 49ers selected cornerback Upton Stout - a player who’s already made an impact as a slot corner this season. For a Seattle team that may be facing tough decisions in the secondary this offseason - including whether to re-sign Riq Woolen - a player like Stout could have provided real value, either as a long-term nickel or a potential outside corner.
Instead, the Seahawks took a swing on a developmental quarterback - and right now, it looks like that swing might have come up empty.
That’s not to say Milroe’s story is over. He’s still just a rookie.
The raw tools are there. And stranger things have happened than a young quarterback making a leap in Year 2.
But for now, Milroe’s role in Seattle is minimal, and the team’s actions - or lack thereof - speak louder than any scouting report.
If he wants to change the narrative, it’ll have to start this offseason. Because as things stand, Jalen Milroe is a third-round pick with first-round athleticism... and a long way to go before he earns the Seahawks’ trust.