Jalen Milroe has had his ups and downs at Alabama.
Yet there should be no debate: when things have been rolling, his game is electric.
The pre-draft process has been fascinating as he has stepped into a different sort of spotlight for NFL teams seeking a certain presence at quarterback. Milroe certainly won’t shrink from the challenge in the Meadowlands if it were to happen after having all eyes on him for two-plus years in Tuscaloosa.
“I’m cool with being underrated,” Milroe said at the Combine. “A lot of things I pour into [game preparation] people don’t see. It’s a grind. It is a social norm to think after the game on Saturday that it is physically taxing, but it’s also mentally taxing because of everything that’s involved with game planning, walkthroughs, the film, waking up early in the morning. There are a lot of things that’s involved in being a successful quarterback. The people that surround me, they understand how much I love football and how much I’m looking to grow as a player. So this will be all about who definitely sees something in me.”
Cam Ward would be in this group of our five favorite fits at the position for the Giants, but the expectation is that he will go No. 1 to the Tennessee Titans. In an offseason when Joe Schoen promised to swing for the fences at the positions, Milroe could be the grand slam from what he could become should he reach his ceiling.
“The days of being OK with a single, double are over [at quarterback], just about,” ESPN analyst Mel Kiper Jr. said during a recent video call. “[Teams used to say], ‘Surround the quarterback by everything and we got a pretty good shot,’ but most, they don’t want that anymore.”
Scouts believe Milroe’s inconsistency in short and intermediate areas will hold him back early on, but as Kiper suggested: “Talent’s there. Great kid.”
As a runner, Milroe is by far the most dangerous playmaker at the position. With a year of learning behind Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston, could he wind up drawing comparisons to Eagles Super Bowl champion Jalen Hurts? Give him time and take a hack for the fences. Milroe is expected to be in the building at 1925 Giants Drive on Thursday for his “30” visit, potentially crossing paths with the prospect Big Blue could end up taking at No. 3: Penn State pass rusher Abdul Carter.
“If I’m Brian Daboll, if Shedeur [Sanders] is off the board, Cam [Ward] is off the board, I would feel comfortable and confident in Jalen Milroe,” CBS HQ analyst and Football Gameplan founder Emory Hunt told NorthJersey.com and The Record. “And the reason why is, Milroe is super coachable. He can still grow and he probably has the best deep ball accuracy out of the quarterbacks. It’s the short and intermediate range where he’s gonna have to rein it in a little bit. He can make anticipatory throws in that area. And that’s all before we get to how explosive he is as a runner.”
Giants QB depth chart
Who’s new: Russell Wilson (Steelers, free agent), Jameis Winston (Browns, free agent)
Welcome back: Tommy DeVito (ERFA)
Who left: Drew Lock (free agent), Tim Boyle (Titans, free agent)
How they stack up: Wilson, Winston, DeVito
Here are four more of my QB favorites for Big Blue
Shedeur Sanders, Colorado: Sanders is coming off a season where he led Colorado to its first nine-win season since 2016, breaking the program record for passing yards in a season (4,134). He also finished with the highest single-season completion percentage (74%) and threw the most touchdowns in a single season (37). He’s confident, which some perceive to be brash, but I’ll take that from the position. Teammates gravitate to him. In some ways, Sanders is a quarterback from a different age of the NFL. He’s a pocket passer who, because of his DNA, is downgraded in part because he is not QB Prime despite being the son of Pro Football Hall of Famer Deion Sanders. That should still play in today’s game, even if teams spend so much time drooling over unicorns at the position with physical talent to drool over.
Jaxson Dart, Ole Miss: There’s no questioning Dart’s arm – what needs to be vetted out is whether the Ole Miss system limited his pre-snap recognition and progressions to one side of the field, and if it is not a limitation in his game. Dart’s ability to throw on the run might be the best of anyone in the class, and he was absolutely productive for the Rebs: 4,279 passing yards, 29 TD throws and six interceptions last season. The Giants have spent a lot of pre-draft time with him, including on campus at Ole Miss Pro Day.
Tyler Shough, Louisville: Shough is an interesting test to what teams want at quarterback. He’ll be 26 during his rookie season, and despite an injury history that needs to be checked out, the tools are there. Strong arm. Good mobility to make things happen with his legs. His journey to the NFL is a long-ish and winding one. He visited the Giants on Wednesday and has had a very good pre-draft process to emerge as a potential early Day 2 pick.
Kyle McCord, Syracuse: McCord’s only year at Syracuse after transferring from Ohio State was exceptional. His 4,779 passing yards was not only the FBS leader for the season, but he also broke the all-time ACC record. He set school records in attempts (592), completions (391) and touchdown passes (34). I’ve heard some Brock Purdy comps with McCord, who could be successful in the right system and some patience.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: 2025 NFL Draft: Meet our 5 favorite quarterback fits for NY Giants