Jalen Milroe

Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald reaffirmed Friday that Sam Darnold will remain the starter, expressing the dreaded vote of confidence in the quarterback despite Seattle’s recent offensive struggles. Darnold’s seven interceptions are tied for No. 1 in the NFL, and he missed most of the season’s first two games with a glute injury. Regardless, Drew Lock’s effective relief work has not prompted a change atop the depth chart.

Fantasy managers should treat Darnold as a fringe QB2 against Kansas City in Week 7. Retain him in superflex leagues while his starting role remains secure, but prioritize alternatives in single-quarterback formats until his passing production becomes more dependable.

Despite preseason hype regarding a “Taysom Hill” role, Jalen Milroe logged a mere three snaps last season as tight end AJ Barner took over specialized short-yardage duties. His QB-only eligibility and minimal on-field presence currently render him fantasy-irrelevant, though he remains a theoretical vulture for red zone carries.

While his usage in the upcoming preseason inspires intrigue, he hasn’t shown enough to be considered a genuine threat to the backfield’s workload. Though undraftable in most formats, Milroe continues to be a viable dynasty stash in superflex leagues in case he somehow makes a leap as a thrower.

The Seahawks not only assured themselves of their future at signal-caller, but also left room to call an audible if their free agent signing doesn’t work out. Seattle selected Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe at No. 92 overall, making him the fourth quarterback off the board. He’ll come into the NFL as the presumed backup to Sam Darnold, who signed a three-year, $100.5 million contract during the offseason.

Milroe had been talked up as highly as a first-round pick, with most analysts calling him at worst a second-round selection. Those sentiments gained steam in recent days as “several” coaches allegedly said, “Jalen Milroe is the greatest runner of the football we’ve ever evaluated at the position.” Milroe ran for 1,577 yards in 38 games and a jaw-dropping 33 touchdowns on the ground.

Besides his ability to move the ball with his legs, Seattle also valued quarterback Milroe as a passer and leader. In three seasons, he completed 423 passes (64.6%) for just under 6,000 yards. He finished sixth in Heisman Trophy voting after his junior season of 2023. All told, Milroe accounted for 96 total touchdowns in three seasons with just 20 picks, nearly a 5:1 ratio.

Author: Sam Schneider (@BuyAndSellYou)

Comments around the league are turning heads as NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported that ‘several’ NFL coaches and scouts disclosed that “Jalen Milroe is the greatest runner of the football we’ve ever evaluated at the position.”

That’s high praise from within a league where Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen, Jalen Hurts, and Jayden Daniels play. Many of those are often compared to Michael Vick, whose career ended a decade ago. In this day and age, certainly Jackson is the most eyebrow-raising. Where Milroe posted a 4.40 40-yard dash time, Jackson logged an unofficial 4.34 at his pro day in Louisville. At the next level, the Baltimore quarterback has demonstrated elusiveness that would require a herculean task to upstage.

For his part, Milroe rushed for a combined 1,257 yards and an eye-popping 32 touchdowns on the ground between his junior and senior seasons, a span of 26 games. There is no doubt that the 22-year-old Texas native has what it takes to be a star in the NFL, but it is unfair to place such lofty expectations on a prospect this early.

Milroe has been consistently mocked as a high-end second-round selection this weekend. It’s not at all out of the question for a team to trade into the end of the first round to secure their future quarterback and gain a fifth-year option.

Author: Sam Schneider (@BuyAndSellYou)