Jalen Milroe has begun practicing at the Senior Bowl with NFL scouts in attendance and has gotten off to an interesting start. The Alabama quarterback is one of the top quarterbacks in attendance, but his play has been a mixture of good and bad that could affect his draft stock. Milroe is a mobile, athletic quarterback with many traits that could translate to the NFL, but he also brings arm and mechanical issues that may need to be ironed out. Jalen Milroe has put all of that on display in the Senior Bowl practices, and for better or worse, a team could reach for him in the NFL Draft.
An Up and Down Senior Bowl
On his first day of Senior Bowl practices, Jalen Milroe did not start well. During an 11-on-11 scrimmage, one play caught the eye of many fans on social media. Milroe muffed a snap from under center, then dropped back and threw a pass right to a defender for an interception. On the play, Milroe was throwing to a crossing route over the middle and did not see the defender lurking underneath. Fans were quick to rip Jalen Milroe apart for the bad interception, but it was one play, and he would respond the next day.
Milroe’s next practice went much better. He was hitting throws in practice that he had missed the day before. This included deep balls that many thought would be a problem for Milroe. But the biggest talking point was Milroe’s fastest throw. He reportedly clocked a ball speed of 75 MPH, which was faster than Dillon Gabriel’s speed the day before. It also would have been 13 MPH faster than Josh Allen’s highest recorded speed. Scouts in attendance were reportedly impressed with Jalen Milroe and believed he had one of the best deep balls of quarterbacks at the Senior Bowl.
So, it was a tale of two practices for Jalen Milroe. One day, he made bad throws and decisions, and the next, he showed out, impressing the NFL scouts in attendance. Depending on the scouts and organization, the Senior Bowl can have a big sway or none at all leading into the NFL Draft. On one hand, players are throwing to guys they have never played with before, and on the other, it is a showcase of the best versus the best. So, Jalen Milroe’s performances in the next practices and the eventual Senior Bowl game could change his draft stock depending on how consistent he can be.
Jalen Milroe’s Draft Stock
Jalen Milroe’s draft stock has been interesting to follow. Right now, the consensus top two quarterbacks are Cam Ward and Shadeur Sanders. One of them will likely be a top pick, and the other could go in the top five depending on the team’s needs. In mock drafts, the Tennessee Titans are expected to take Ward or Sanders with the number one pick, and the New York Giants could get the other at three. But one of them could easily drop to a team like the Raiders at six or beyond that. But Milroe’s stock depends on how early Ward and Sanders are taken off the board.
Jalen Milroe has the tools to be a good quarterback. He is very fast and mobile and can hit deep throws if he needs to. But the arm has been inconsistent at Alabama and the Senior Bowl practices. Still, the tools are there, and teams will typically go for quarterbacks early in the draft. There is a world where Milroe is selected in the top 10 and a world where he drops completely out of the first round. It depends on the other quarterbacks and how much Milroe can improve his stock.
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