AFC Coordinator: Alabama dodged massive transfer portal exodus with Jalen Milroe leaving

After Nick Saban’s retirement, Jalen Milroe chose to return to Alabama under new head coach Kalen DeBoer in 2024. He could have done so again in 2025, but ultimately chose to declare for the NFL Draft.

When Milroe made that move, though, an AFC coordinator told NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero Alabama avoided a massive exodus. The coordinator heard multiple key players thought about entering the transfer portal if he came back.

Milroe is hoping to hear his name called in the draft this week, but the question is when that will happen. Some around the league expressed concern about his accuracy, but continue to point out his athleticism that could make a difference. But although Milroe wants to play more in the pocket, the coordinator encouraged him to embrace his athleticism.

“He’s a 22 mph-on-the-ground guy,” the coordinator told Pelissero. “He’s got a fastball that’s not very accurate. He doesn’t know when to take it off the ball. We heard out of Alabama all the skill [players] would’ve transferred if he came back. He wants to be known as a pocket quarterback and your best skill is you’re frickin’ fast.”

Milroe threw for 2,844 yards and 16 touchdowns in 2024 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.

When asked about Milroe’s skillset in the NFL, though, another coordinator in the AFC pointed out his accuracy issues. He threw 11 interceptions last season – his second as Alabama’s starter– and completed 64.3% of his passes. Still, the coordinator compared Milroe’s athleticism to that of Cam Newton and Lamar Jackson.

“He has a lot of accuracy issues,” the other coordinator told Pelissero. “But he’s a freak. He’s the best running quarterback I’ve ever evaluated. He’s like Cam Newton’s power with Lamar’s speed. He can throw the ball down the field – his numbers over 20 yards are good. And he’s a true developmental-type player. He’s electric.”

With two days to go until the draft, the question remains when exactly Jalen Milroe will go off the board, although he will be in Green Bay when the first round gets underway Thursday. Both NFL.com’s Chad Reuter and ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. had him coming in as a second-round pick in their final mock drafts, but there’s been chatter about whether the Pittsburgh Steelers could select the former Alabama star in the first round.