The Seattle Seahawks made a bet on this season when they landed in-demand quarterback Sam Darnold in free agency, then made an investment in their future when they drafted Jalen Milroe.
The rookie quarterback is expected to spend the year learning behind Darnold, who is coming off a surprise breakout season with the Minnesota Vikings. While Milroe still has a lot of growing to do, one analyst believes he could flash some “intriguing” potential and find ways to help the team from the No. 3 spot on the depth chart.
Jalen Milroe Expected to See Limited Playing Time
Though the Seahawks put trusted veteran Drew Lock in the No. 2 spot behind Darnold, the team signaled that Milroe would see the field in some specialty formations.
Brent Sobleski of Bleacher Report called Milroe the most intriguing quarterback on the roster, noting his tremendous upside.
“Lock is an established six-year veteran. He’s made 18 starts throughout his career. He’s next in line if Sam Darnold becomes injured or doesn’t play well for the Seahawks,” Sobleski wrote. “Milroe may be the most intriguing quarterback on the roster, though. This year’s 92nd overall draft pick is an exceptional athlete with elite speed and a huge arm. The Seattle coaching staff understands he’s not anywhere ready to take the offensive reins, but the group still wants to utilize his skill set.”
Tim Weaver of USA Today’s Seahawks Wire noted that the team already gave a preview of how Milroe will be used this season.
“The short version is that Milroe is unlikely to air the ball out when he does come onto he field,” Weaver wrote. “Instead, fans should expect a variety of different designed runs. Seattle showed one example when they successfully converted a version of the tush push on a fourth down against Kansas City. We also got to see Milroe thrive on a few read-option runs, so that should be part of the package, as well.”
Sam Darnold Already Under Pressure
Though he is coming off a career-best season with the Vikings last year — leading the team to a 14-3 record and a playoff berth — Darnold faces some questions as he heads into the 2025 season. He struggled in the team’s final two games last season, losing to the Detroit Lions in the season finale to lose their chance at a division title and then falling flat against the Los Angeles Rams in a divisional-round loss.
Darnold struggled under pressure in both games, taking nine sacks in the team’s playoff loss. Analyst Mike Renner said on CBS Sports HQ that Darnold could face more struggles this season without the weapons he had in Minnesota.
“A lot was going on around him to benefit him that just won’t be present in Seattle,” Renner asid. “I need to see their offensive line turnaround before I believe it in Seattle, and I need to see Sam Darnold do it again when he doesn’t have this elite situation before I believe it as well.
“And especially, the biggest thing that I keep going back to is he was great down the football field last season. They do not have fast receivers in Seattle. Those are four, six wide receivers in Cooper Kupp and Jaxon Smith-Njigba. I don’t know where the downfield production is coming from now that they traded away DK Metcalf.”
Seahawks Rookie QB Jalen Milroe Earns ‘Intriguing’ Prediction