What's Next for Jalen Milroe

IMG Stephen Brashear

By Bo Crouch ~ Axess Sports

The NFL is built on opportunity.

Sometimes that opportunity arrives immediately. Sometimes it takes years. And sometimes a player finds himself trapped in the uncomfortable space between potential and circumstance.

That may be exactly where Jalen Milroe finds himself in Seattle.

When the Seahawks selected the former Alabama quarterback in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft, the move wasn't about finding an immediate starter. It was about investing in upside. Seattle saw the athleticism, the arm strength, and the explosive playmaking ability that made Milroe one of the most intriguing quarterback prospects in his draft class.

The challenge is that the situation around him has changed dramatically.

Sam Darnold didn't simply stabilize Seattle's quarterback position after arriving in free agency. He exceeded every expectation imaginable, leading the Seahawks to a Super Bowl championship and firmly establishing himself as the franchise quarterback. Barring injury or a dramatic decline in performance, Darnold isn't giving up the starting job anytime soon.

Behind him sits Drew Lock, a veteran who knows the offense and has proven he can step into games when needed. While Lock's contract situation could become a storyline in the future, he remains a trusted presence in Seattle's quarterback room.

That leaves Milroe in a difficult position.

For all of his physical gifts, quarterbacks develop through reps. Practice helps, film study helps, but there is no substitute for meaningful game action. As long as Darnold remains entrenched as the starter and Lock occupies the backup role, Milroe's path to playing time appears blocked.

That's where an interesting possibility begins to emerge.

The New England Patriots could be one of the few teams in the league that makes sense as a potential trade destination.

New England believes it has found its franchise quarterback in Drake Maye. The former North Carolina star was selected third overall and has shown enough promise to convince the Patriots that he is their long-term answer under center. What remains less certain is the depth behind him.

Currently, Tommy DeVito sits atop the backup depth chart, and while DeVito has shown flashes during his NFL career, New England may eventually look for a quarterback with a higher developmental ceiling.

Milroe could provide exactly that.

His dual-threat skill set would fit naturally into an offense already built around a quarterback capable of creating plays both inside and outside the pocket. The Patriots previously explored that type of player with Joe Milton III, but Milroe arguably enters the conversation with a more accomplished college résumé and a stronger foundation as a playmaker.

The talent has never been the question.

At Alabama, Milroe demonstrated the ability to stretch defenses vertically while also creating explosive plays with his legs. The next step in his development has always been consistency—improving his processing speed, decision-making, and overall command of an NFL offense.

Those improvements are difficult to make when opportunities are limited.

A move to New England could place Jalen one injury away from meaningful playing time while allowing him to continue developing behind an established young starter. For a quarterback still learning the professional game, that environment may ultimately be more beneficial than remaining third on Seattle's depth chart.

From Seattle's perspective, the decision becomes a balancing act between future potential and present value.

The Seahawks invested draft capital in Milroe for a reason. Giving up on a young quarterback too early can become a costly mistake, especially if Drew Lock departs in free agency after the season. Yet the reality of roster construction often forces difficult choices.

If another team values Jalen enough to offer meaningful draft compensation, Seattle would have to listen.

The Seahawks already project to have significant draft capital available in 2027 and adding another mid-round selection could further strengthen their long-term roster-building strategy. More importantly, a trade could provide Milroe with something he currently lacks: a clearer path toward proving whether he can become an NFL starter.

The truth is that Milroe's future may have less to do with his talent and more to do with timing.

Seattle remains an excellent place for a young quarterback to learn, but development eventually requires opportunity. If that opportunity isn't likely to come with the Seahawks, both sides may eventually benefit from finding a situation where it can.

For now, Milroe remains a Seahawk. But as Seattle prepares for the future and New England continues building around Drake Maye, the possibility of those paths crossing is a storyline worth watching.

Because in the NFL, talent matters.

Opportunity matters just as much.