Seahawks QB of the future? Jalen Milroe sees first action in rookie minicamp
Of all the players the Seahawks selected in last month’s NFL Draft, none will have more eyeballs on them over the coming months than quarterback and Alabama product Jalen Milroe.
It’s unlikely Milroe supplants free agent signing Sam Darnold as the team’s starter in year one, but could he be Seattle’s quarterback of the future? With the rise of successful dual-threat quarterbacks in the NFL, Milroe’s tantalizing skillset should have Seattle fans more interested than usual in the preseason this fall.
Coach Mike Macdonald got his first look at Milroe on Friday, the first day of Seattle’s rookie minicamp. It’s difficult to glean anything too meaningful from a rookie practice, but Milroe looked smooth and comfortable in his first action in a Seattle uniform. He joked it felt like being in the first day of class.
“It’s definitely cool to be an NFL quarterback,” Milroe said. “Get my feet wet, get acclimated. It was a dream come true, for sure.”
Milroe, a 6-foot-2, 225-pounder, was Seattle’s third-round pick this year. He racked up 2,844 passing yards and 16 touchdowns last season and rushed for 726 yards and 20 touchdowns. The knock on Milroe is his accuracy — he completed 64.3 percent of his passes in 2024 for the Crimson Tide.
Milroe said he’s been working on his mechanics.
“Doing a deep understanding of how my body functions throwing the ball, understanding how I distribute my body, when it comes to the lower half mechanics and things like that has been a focus for us,” he said. “With that, it’s all about being an efficient passer.”
Milroe will likely see the field in some capacity in 2025, whether that’s in goal-line or short-yardage situations where his legs can be an asset for new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak.
“My goal, honestly, is to come in and be the best version of myself,” he said. “Be better than I was the day before and earn the trust and respect of everyone in the organization. Everyone from the top down, earn their trust and respect. … With that, it comes with being a good teammate as well, being a good teammate to Sam Darnold, Drew Lock, everyone in the room.”
Most of Milroe’s completions at Friday’s minicamp were routine throws, but a completion to former Miami tight end Elijah Arroyo — Seattle’s second round selection — was a highlight.
On another play, Milroe handled a low snap out of the shotgun and the play opened up in front of him. He jogged a few yards before being lightly touched down by a defender, but it’s easy to imagine the speedy Milroe taking off for a 20+ yard gain in real game action in that scenario.
Milroe was already speaking like a leader after Friday’s practice, excited to grow and work alongside his fellow Seahawks draft picks.
“You’ve gotta be smart at the quarterback position, you’ve gotta prepare and you’ve gotta emphasize how much you love football,” he said. “When you care, it’s gonna wear off on other guys. … It’s definitely cool to see the amount of talent we have in this draft class.”
SAFETY NICK EMMANWORI HEARS FROM KAM CHANCELLOR
Nick Emmanwori grew up idolizing Seattle’s Super Bowl winning “Legion of Boom” defense. So when he got a text from safety Kam Chancellor before the NFL Draft, he was a little starstruck.
“I was showing my friends, like, ‘Kam Chancellor just texted,’” Emmanwori said.
Then he heard his name called by Seattle in the second round, when the Seahawks picked the South Carolina safety with the 35th pick.
“I’m gonna be reaching out to him for advice, how he made his way through here and try to make my own way.”
At 6-foot-3, 220 pounds, Emmanwori has drawn comparisons to Chancellor because of his measurables and explosiveness.
Whether or not Emmanwori can bring the same dose of ‘boom’ remains to be seen, but he’s an intriguing player for Mike Macdonald’s team. And he’s wearing No. 3, another nod to Seattle’s Super Bowl era and former Seahawks QB Russell Wilson, who wore the number.
“Russell Wilson is one of my favorite quarterbacks,” Emmanwori said. “Growing up with the Legion of Boom defense. They had the offense, too. So respect to Russell, he did a lot for this organization, did everything he could. I’m gonna do what I can and make it special on defense in my own way.”
This story was originally published May 2, 2025 at 3:40 PM.
