NFL head coach heavily linked to Jalen Milroe addresses team's interest in Alabama quarterback
With recent speculation around the 2025 NFL Draft seeming to point toward the Cleveland Browns passing on Shedeur Sanders in favor of Travis Hunter or Abdul Carter at No. 2 overall, the question of who the team could add at quarterback later has been more prominent. One option that looked viable after the Browns hired […]
With recent speculation around the 2025 NFL Draft seeming to point toward the Cleveland Browns passing on Shedeur Sanders in favor of Travis Hunter or Abdul Carter at No. 2 overall, the question of who the team could add at quarterback later has been more prominent.
One option that looked viable after the Browns hired former Alabama offensive coordinator Tommy Rees was his previous quarterback, Jalen Milroe.
Milroe is coming off an inconsistent season and NFL draft process, but plenty of coaches have been complimentary of the dual-threat quarterback. Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski became the latest to go on record about liking Milroe's skill set.
Stefanski was asked about why Milroe is being considered by the Browns, and his response was fantastic.
“I don’t see him just as a runner, Tony, that’s certainly an element of his game God’s blessed him with the ability to make plays with his feet when necessary, but he’s made plenty of throws in his career.” Stefanski answered.
He then was asked about Milroe's time at the Senior Bowl, where the former Crimson Tide passer struggled. The question was framed as to whether Stefanski saw improvement since the Senior Bowl.
“I don’t know if I’d say improvement. I mean, obviously, Senior Bowl, you get in the 7-on-7 or that type of drill, so this is on air, but yeah, I think you’re always looking at mechanics and how you can help a player… I think the biggest thing, Tony, is that it’s such a body of work.”
Overall, it seems like Milroe had impressed Stefanski with what matters from a raw tools perspective, but also noted the need for skill refinement.
Rees previously offered flattering praise for Milroe, lauding his character, competitiveness, and willingness to improve.
“You know, I think it shows a great amount of character, a great amount of competitiveness from those two guys, but it also shows a love for their teammates and a love for being here,” Tommy Rees said. “And honestly, it speaks volumes about the program that guys want to stay here, and so I think it’s really special that in this age of college football, especially at the quarterback position when guys are so eager to leave, that two guys looked at an opportunity to stay here, to care about their teammates, to continue to improve.”
Jalen Milroe 2025 NFL Draft Outlook
Look, Milroe ranked as our riskiest 2025 NFL Draft prospect for a reason. However, the payoff could be legendary for Cleveland.
The success rate of quarterbacks is generally low, particularly for those selected outside the top 10 picks. Teams that draft quarterbacks later tend to have a better chance of finding a more promising prospect shortly afterward. The notable exceptions occur when players chosen in the later rounds actually thrive.
Milroe faces a challenging path if he hopes to become a success like those chosen in Round 2. The exceptional athlete from Alabama possesses a powerful arm and is an impressive runner, but both his accuracy and decision-making leave much to be desired.
He will require time and proper repetitions within the right system to evolve beyond just a physical talent focused on making highlight-reel plays.
That said, only Cameron Ward can match Milroe’s elite athleticism in this draft class. The potential reward is that he could emulate the success of former Alabama standout Jalen Hurts or become an improved version of Tyrod Taylor. Given those possibilities, it could be worthwhile to draft and develop Milroe.
