Jalen Milroe reveals draft discussions with Miami Dolphins to back up Tua Tagovailoa

From the outside, opinions of where Jalen Milroe are all over the place. Some believe the former Alabama quarterback has a chance of being a first-round pick. Others are not as high on him, predicting a Day 2 selection. It’s early in the process but Milroe appears to already be talking with specific teams.

C. Isaiah Smalls of The Miami Herald caught up with Milroe Wednesday at the Senior Bowl. Apparently, there have been discussions between Milroe and the Miami Dolphins about potentially being next season’s backup quarterback. Another Alabama product is currently Miami’s starter in Tua Tagovailoa.

“Bama QB Jalen Milroe has had conversations with the Miami Dolphins about their backup quarterback position, he said,” Smalls said via X. “Also added that conversations ‘went well.’”

Injuries have been a problem throughout the years for Tagovailoa, specifically concussions. He missed six games last season and four in 2022. Tagovailoa has been honest about how frustrating the process is but Miami has not been able to find success without him on the field. They were 2-4 when Tagovailoa was recovering this year.

On paper, Milroe would be given the opportunity to be developed by one of the NFL’s best offensive minds, Mike McDaniel. Some believe he needs time before becoming a full-time starter in the league. But the Dolphins may feel like a qualified backup is needed on the roster.

The NFL Draft cycle is just getting underway. Milroe will speak with nearly every team out there, learning of different roles he could have moving forward. But early on, the Dolphins might have a vision to pair two Alabama quarterbacks together.

ESPN’s Louis Riddick hoping an NFL team is patient with Jalen Milroe

ESPN’s Louis Riddick has gotten a look at Milroe in Mobile, still believing he is not fully “there yet.” Riddick laid out the areas where Milroe needs to improve and began with consistency. Everyone knows how good the arm talent is but Milroe’s ability to continually make plays is his biggest question mark.

Riddick hopes whichever NFL team winds up selecting Milroe has patience. Putting the Alabama product through a circus would wind up being detrimental.

“If you don’t have patience and you don’t have a great developmental program in the NFL, don’t draft this guy,” Riddick said. “Don’t put him on that merry-go-round to where then, the conversation surrounding him is ‘He’s not good enough.’”