“Former Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver and longtime NBC color analyst Cris Collinsworth raved about Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe during a recent interview with Pro Football Focus. He thinks Milroe is the next Jalen Hurts, and the Pittsburgh Steelers would be wise to take him at No. 21.
“The more I was watching Milroe, he can throw it, he can throw it well enough. He’s Jalen Hurts throwing the ball,” Collinsworht said. “But, God, this guy when he takes off and runs, (it’s) like wow.
So can we talk about him in terms of that one, two, three special plays to keep a drive alive that turned into a field goal. Not let’s turn it over to T.J. [Watt] and let them try to win a game in the fourth quarter.
“The more I thought about it and it doesn’t even bother me if Aaron Rodgers comes in and plays a year. You have Milroe sort of sitting there and learning from him.
And the end of the year, you’ve got Milroe and I think that [Mike] Tomlin has probably seen enough. With Milroe, I just keep thinking there’s a path to him being Jalen Hurts.”
There is growing belief that the Pittsburgh Steelers will use their first-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft on a quarterback whether or not Aaron Rodgers signs with the team. Jordan Plocher of PFF has the Steelers selecting Milroe at No. 21, as well.
“Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith is drooling over the thought of having a rushing threat at quarterback. In 2024, Milroe earned an 81.8 PFF rushing grade and forced 32 missed tackles on the ground,” Plocher wrote.
“Milroe ran a reported 4.40-second 40-yard dash at Alabama’s pro day, so he brings rare speed to the quarterback position. Smith’s run-first offensive approach will ease his NFL development, as he won’t be asked to drop back and throw the ball 40 times per game.”
Milroe, 22, is an intriguing prospect. Over the past two seasons, he threw for 5,678 yards, 39 touchdowns and 17 interceptions. He also rushed for 1,257 yards and 32 touchdowns. His 4.4 speed is unheard of for a quarterback, too.
“Rare physical talent …maybe the only quarterback who’s faster than Lamar Jackson,” Cleveland Browns general manager Andrew Berry said about Milroe.
There’s no doubt Pittsburgh is interested in Milroe. General manager Omar Khan, head coach Mike Tomlin and quarterbacks coach Tom Arth wined and dined the Alabama product ahead of his pro day. But the team has several other needs it could address in the first round.
Many around the league think there’s a chance Milroe could sneak into the first round after he accepted an invitation to attend the 2025 NFL Draft in Green Bay.