NFL observers are offering sharply divided assessments of Seattle Seahawks quarterback Jalen Milroe’s early work at training camp this summer.
The former Alabama signal-caller, selected on Day 2 of the 2025 NFL Draft as a long-term developmental piece, spent his rookie campaign largely as the third-string option behind starter Sam Darnold and veteran Drew Lock.
The Seahawks treated that first year as something of a redshirt experience, limiting Milroe to three appearances that came exclusively in wildcat packages. He finished with four rushing yards on three carries and did not attempt a pass.
Whether that apprenticeship is translating into meaningful progress remains open to interpretation. Some voices covering the team have been encouraged by what they have seen.
Jeremy Brener of Seahawks on SI noted that “While Lock keeps the QB2 spot, Milroe is actively challenging him for his job.” Brener added that “Milroe has stacked some strong days in training camp, and it is better than anything he did during his entire rookie season.” He continued, “Milroe is making throws that he was unable to make a year ago, and it’s clear that he has learned a lot from his year on the bench.”
A contrasting view has come from Fansided’s 12th Man Rising. Lee Vowell listed Milroe among the early losers of camp after roughly a week of practices.
“He has once again struggled with consistent accuracy, which was one of the knocks on him coming out of Alabama,” Vowell wrote. “That he hasn’t seemed to improve this past offseason is a real issue that he needs to remedy immediately.”
Such disagreement is hardly unusual when evaluating quarterbacks in practice settings. Subjectivity is inherent, especially when one player may be working with more experienced teammates while another takes snaps alongside younger or less polished skill players.
Analysts also rarely see every repetition, further clouding the picture. The Seahawks’ first preseason game against the Dallas Cowboys on Aug. 15 should supply clearer evidence once the pads come off and live competition begins.
At present the roster carries only three quarterbacks, so there is little risk of roster cuts at the position. Darnold is firmly entrenched as the starter.
Lock, a former first-round pick who went 8-13 as a starter over three seasons in Denver and later served as an injury replacement for Geno Smith, remains the conventional backup. He completed two of three passes for 15 yards in limited action last season and is still regarded as a capable second option around the league.
If Milroe continues to flash improvement and Lock falters in the preseason, the coaching staff may face a genuine decision. For now the reviews are mixed, leaving the backup competition unresolved until the exhibition games provide more definitive answers.
