After two years with Derek Carr as QB1 for the New Orleans Saints, one thing is clear: the franchise is still searching for a quarterback of the future. Between Carr’s age (34 entering next season), his frequent injuries, and mediocre play, it’s not a guarantee that he’ll be starting for the Saints next season.
New Orleans could turn to Spencer Rattler, find another recycled veteran quarterback, or pick someone in the draft. One 2025 prospect that could be a lot of fun is Jalen Milroe.
Accolades: 2x team captain, William V Campbell trophy
2024 stats: 2,836 yards, 16 touchdowns, 11 interceptions, 879 rushing yards, 20 rushing touchdowns
Size: 6”1’, 223 LBs
Projection: Late day 1-day 2
Jalen Milroe is a high-risk, high-reward prospect whose athleticism and arm talent make him enticing. Milroe pairs blazing speed with an electric arm capable of pushing the ball down the field. However, he is one of the most inconsistent players in college football.
Milroe at his best is a generational prospect. He’s everything someone would want in their leader but his NFL career will all depend on how well he grows. It would be best for Milroe to sit behind a veteran for a season, learning the offense and developing.
The biggest issue for Milroe is his consistency. Against Georgia, he looked spectacular, throwing for 374 yards, rushing for 113, and scoring four total touchdowns. A couple weeks later, he looked like a different player. Against Oklahoma, he threw for 164 yards, three interceptions, and zero touchdowns. This level of inconsistency won’t hold up in the NFL; he needs to figure out how to play well regularly.
Milroe has an outstanding arm. He can throw the pigskin 50 yards without a sweat. His deep ball is one of his best traits. The redshirt junior uses plenty of velocity while throwing, not allowing the defensive back to make a play.
He contains rare athleticism for a quarterback, with breakaway speed that allows him to run away from any player on the field. He also has enough power to run through arm tackles. It’s hard for a defense to stop him from scoring, either scrambling or on a designed run.
Milroe must improve his accuracy at the next level. At times, it looks great, however it looks shaky a lot more often. He needs to work on anticipating his receivers and throwing to where they will be. Milroe often waits for them to clear, making the window he can throw minimal.
A key aspect Milroe needs to develop is being comfortable in the pocket. Often, he gets antsy and escapes the pocket way too early. This causes him not to progress through his reads and missing open receivers.
Jalen Milroe is arguably the most intriguing prospect in this year's draft. The Senior Bowl and NFL Combine are crucial for him improving his stock. An impressive showing could vault him into the first round.