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2025 NFL Draft: Jalen Milroe addresses risk of slide after accepting invite

ns_headshot_2024-clearby:Nick Schultz•04/11/25•

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Jalen Milroe
Will McLelland-Imagn Images

When the 2025 NFL Draft gets underway from Green Bay on April 24, former Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe will be in attendance. He confirmed he received an invite to attend after The Athletic’s Dane Brugler reported the news.

The invitation raised eyebrows, though. Players who receive invites to the draft are typically expected to go in the first round. However, Milroe – whose name is reportedly “gaining steam” – has been seen as a potential first-round selection, but could find himself falling into the second round. If he drops out of Day 1, the concern would be about a potential Will Levis situation after he sat in the green room before hearing his name called on Day 2 in 2023.

However, Milroe told Jim Rome he’s not worrying about a slide down the board. From his perspective, it’s all about hearing commissioner Roger Goodell call his name no matter when it happens.

“I’m not really necessarily concerned about that because I know that it’s all about hearing my name called and seeing the smiling faces of my family members because they know how hard their son has worked his whole life,” Milroe said. “That’s the thing that we’re all excited about, just hearing my name called – whenever that may be. At the end of the day, you still have to put in the work. No matter where you’re placed in the draft, you’ve still got to put in the work. You’ve still got to earn the trust of the coaching staff, you’ve still got to build a relationship with the guys in the locker room.

“So despite anywhere you’re placed on the draft board, it doesn’t matter. It’s all about how hard you work and it’s all about the buy-in process of that period of time. Despite anything, I’m just excited to be able to achieve my dream, which is be an NFL quarterback.”

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.

ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. projected the New York Giants to select Jalen Milroe in his Mock Draft 4.0. However, Kiper had New York using its second-round pick on the former Alabama standout. Still, Milroe presents an interesting case for NFL teams ahead of the 2025 draft, which begins April 24.