2025 NFL Draft: Dan Orlovsky reveals why New York Giants are 'ideal situation' for Jalen Milroe

After two seasons as the starter at Alabama, Jalen Milroe presents one of the more interesting studies in the 2025 NFL Draft. He had an up-and-down 2024 season in Tuscaloosa, but possesses the athleticism to potentially make an impact at the next level.

When it comes to an “ideal fit,” though, ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky said the New York Giants could fit the bill. After all, Brian Daboll knows quite a bit about success with quarterback from Alabama and dual-threats in the NFL.

After ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. projected the Giants to select Milroe in the second round of his Mock Draft 4.0, Orlovsky pointed out the reasons it would make sense. Daboll, of course, played a key role in Josh Allen’s development with the Buffalo Bills and knows Nick Saban well. As questions also swirl about Daboll’s job status in New York, Orlovsky argued Milroe’s athleticism could help provide a spark on offense if necessary.

“If I could hand-pick one team for Jalen Milroe, it would be the New York Giants in the second round,” Orlovsky said on NFL Live. “This would be the ideal situation. No. 1, Brian Daboll’s Alabama ties. I remember hearing Nick Saban talk about Jalen Milroe and said, this guy changes the game. I remember Brian Daboll talking about how Nick Saban told him the No. 1 guy he could not stop in college over the past couple years was Jayden Daniels. No. 2, Mel hit it. The impact he had with Josh Allen, but mainly the quarterback run, which gets me to point three – desperation. They’re desperate.

“And if it comes to a point this season where Brian Daboll and Joe Schoen are like, ‘We need to do something to keep our jobs,’ I’d just sit there and go, if you’ve got Jalen Milroe, you can go full Lamar Jackson rookie mode where here it comes 15 times a game. Because this young man, while he’s improving as a passer, is an absolute rocket ship with the ball in his hands. I think he’s got more talent as a thrower than maybe some of the inconsistencies of the season last year showed itself. He’s got to get much, much better in the red zone. But this would be the perfect place for both the player and the organization.”

Milroe showcased his dual-threat ability at Alabama, using both his big arm and his legs. In 2024, he threw for 2,844 yards and 16 touchdowns while adding 726 rushing yards and 20 touchdowns on the ground. On the whole, in his two years as the Crimson Tide’s starting quarterback, he totaled 5,678 passing yards and 39 touchdowns to go with 1,257 rushing yards and 32 touchdowns.

Kiper projected Milroe to go in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft, but an interesting ripple came up this week. The Athletic’s Dane Brugler reported the NFL invited him to the draft, which typically indicates a chance to go in the first round.