The Seattle Seahawks knew they were adding a unique chess piece when they selected Jalen Milroe in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
When Milroe was a redshirt freshman at the University of Alabama, a video circulated showing him power-clean 335 pounds. It’s uncommon to see 19-year-old quarterbacks toss around such weight with ease. When Milroe was a senior, he ran a blazing 40-yard dash time of 4.37 seconds at his Alabama Pro Day. For comparison, Lamar Jackson ran a 4.34.
With his combination of speed and strength, it’s no wonder Milroe received a 99th percentile athleticism score in his NFL.com scouting profile. And it appears the Seahawks aren’t wasting any time utilizing that athleticism.
On Aug. 25, head coach Mike MacDonald announced that Milroe will receive “regular work” with the starting offense this season, per Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times. “We’re going to have plays for Jalen in the game plans, and he’s going to rep those with the ones [on offense]. And however we build the package for him going into games, he needs those reps in walk-through and full speed, so that’s going to be important,” MacDonald said.
The hope is that Milroe’s designed plays will make the Seahawks‘ offense more dynamic and efficient, while adding a component that opposing defenses will have to scheme against every week. In fact, MacDonald said he wants opponents to know Milroe will be involved in offensive packages. That way, they have to spend time planning for it.
What The Designed Plays Will Look Like
MacDonald didn’t specify what Milroe’s designed plays would look like (nor should he). However, it’s safe to assume the plays will focus on short-yardage and goal-line situations. Fans likely received a sneak peek of Milroe’s role in the offense when he converted a “tush push” in a preseason game against the Chiefs earlier this month.
Gadget plays in the NFL can certainly be used for shots down the field and picking up massive gains–look no further than Ben Johnson’s offense in Detroit last season–but they’re typically focused on short-yardage efficiency. The Seahawks were middle of the pack in third-down conversion percentage and red-zone scoring percentage last season, ranking No. 21 and No. 14, respectively. Those numbers could increase with Milroe on the team.
A possible template for Milroe is New Orleans Saints’ jack-of-all-trades player Taysom Hill. He’s been used in unique passing and running plays throughout his NFL career, often in short-yardage situations. And now there’s connective tissue between the Saints’ and Seahawks’ offenses. Klint Kubiak, the Seahawks’ new offensive coordinator, was the OC in New Orleans last season. He has experience designing plays that would take advantage of Milroe’s versatility.
Milroe’s arm talent also far surpasses Hill’s, and he showed flashes of his potential this preseason. He completed 22 of 39 passes in three preseason games, throwing for 255 yards, one touchdown, and zero interceptions. He added 87 rushing yards on 15 carries as well.
How Milroe’s Role Affects RB Fantasy Value
It’s unclear how frequently Milroe will be used in designed plays this season. However, it shouldn’t raise any alarm bells on drafting running backs Kenneth Walker III or Zach Charbonnet in your fantasy leagues. At least, not yet. The only fantasy-related fear is that the Milroe “tush push” becomes so effective that it regularly vultures goal-line touchdowns from the Seahawks’ running backs.
On the other hand, there’s an equal chance it benefits Walker and Charbonnet. The best-case scenario is that Milroe makes the entire offense more efficient, leading to more opportunities for every Seahawks skill player.
Seattle Seahawks Are Designing Gadget Plays for Exciting Rookie QB