By admin 
Getty Image / Douglas DeFelice
It wasn’t that long ago that Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe was considered by many to be a first-round pick. The dual-threat quarterback put up solid numbers earlier this season and showed great growth as a passer under first-year head coach Kalen DeBoer.
His draft stock has fallen dramatically, especially after an underperformance in the Reliaquest Bowl on Tuesday. But that didn’t stop him from entering the NFL Draft early, as he declared Thursday for the 2025 NFL Draft.
Here is the message Milroe shared.
BREAK:
Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe has declared for the 2025 NFL Draft. pic.twitter.com/JBshZOGgeo
— Sideline – Bama (@SSN_Alabama) January 2, 2025
Milroe had an up and down season, finishing with 2,844 yards passing, 16 touchdowns, 11 interceptions and another 726 yards on the ground with a whopping 20 touchdowns for the 9-4 Crimson Tide.
The Katy, Texas, native was slightly better statistically in 2023, his first year as a starter. That said, he got off to a great start this year, carrying Georgia for an incredible total of 491 yards in a 41-34 win at Alabama. But he struggled along the way. He threw for over 200 yards just once in the team’s last five games, and had three touchdown passes and five interceptions in that span.
In terms of national perception, things really took a turn during Tuesday’s Reliaquest Bowl. Milroe was terrible against a depleted Michigan team, completing 16 of 32 passes for 192 yards, one touchdown, one interception and two lost fumbles, gaining just 7 yards on the ground on 16 carries. As bad as those numbers are, Milroe actually played worse than the numbers.
But even as his draft stock fell well out of the first round to Day 2, and perhaps even further, Milroe decided to turn pro while he was still eligible.
Could Milroe have seen the writing on the wall that Kalen DeBoer would likely name someone else the starting quarterback next year, like five-star recruit Keelon Russell? That certainly could have played a role. But Jalen Milroe could have entered the transfer portal and made big money elsewhere.
Ultimately, he decided the NFL was his best choice. I’m not sure if this was the right choice, but time will tell.