For the first time since 2018, the Seahawks selected a quarterback in the NFL Draft – and he’s a guy who could make a major difference down the road.
In general manager John Schneider’s previous 16 drafts with the Seahawks, he’s only drafted two quarterbacks:
- Russell Wilson, 3rd round of 2012
- Alex McGough, 7th round of 2018
Here, we’ll go down that road in history to show just how much the Seahawks value what Jalen Milroe is bringing to the table.
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The uber-athletic Alabama quarterback can be the starter of the future while learning from veterans. He brings a true dual-threat nature to this position, and can even help in special packages right away.
“You’ve got to look at it through the lens of things we talked about when we first hired Klint (Kubiak). One of the reasons we hired him was to incorporate the whole roster and really bring out what everybody does really well. Adding Jalen is a part of that. The ability to kind of bring the best out of all the players is really exciting. That’s you, it fits. We’re running Klint’s offense. Jalen is going to fit right in. But when he’s in there, we’re going to be doing the stuff he does great, just like we do when Sam (Darnold) is leading the charge. Yeah, it’s going to be a lot of fun” said Mike Macdonald, the Seahawks’ Head Coach.
Both Schneider and Macdonald said that there are a lot of ways Milroe can be used – but he is a quarterback, and he’s the kind of quarterback who gives defensive coaches like Macdonald nightmares. It will be an interesting progression in the years to come.
But what about Milroe – how excited is he to be in Seattle? The answer was evident right away.
“I know this community of people that believe in me, that’s all in on me. I felt that from the jump when I visited Seattle and was around the coaching staff. It’s great vibes, so I just enjoyed my whole journey while I was there,” said Milroe, referring to his pre-draft visit.
“I’d never been to Seattle. The previous staff at Washington raved about the city and talked about it. I’d never been to that part of the world, so my first visit, I took it all in, number one. But also seeing the facilities, seeing the coaching staff and meeting everyone. It was a great visit overall,” he continued.
However, quarterback Sam Darnold will take most of the snaps this year – he signed a three-year deal to be the starting signal-caller.
But that doesn’t mean that Milroe will never see the field, nor does it mean he won’t be the starter down the road. In a football world where rookie quarterbacks are often rushed into action with mixed results, Milroe can learn the ropes as long as needed before potentially taking the reins of the offense one day.
Milroe says his confidence was instilled by the Seahawks’ front office.
“The Seahawks knew I was the best quarterback in the draft. They emphasized that. And then also with them getting to know me, it’s the mentality. One-on-one at the facility and just talking ball as well. We just took it as an opportunity to get to know me, how I view X’s and O’s, what drives me, all the process that comes with preparation. All those different things I was able to talk to everyone on the staff about that,” he said.
Jalen Milroe enters the NFL with a chip on his shoulder, and he’s ready to help Seattle win as many games as possible.
When asked about the other 31 teams and nearly 100 picks that passed without choosing him, Jalen had one message:”Belt to a–.”
He’ll get his chance. The Seahawks spent considerable capital on Milroe and resisted an opportunity to trade down in the draft to ensure selecting him.
This is a low-risk, potential high-reward draft pick with a highly motivated, highly talented quarterback itching for the opportunity to prove the Seahawks right.
