Will the Browns draft a new starting quarterback?
The Cleveland Browns will not have their starting quarterback Deshaun Watson available to begin the 2025 season, and just possibly not at all. So, they have to find a new starter.
At the Reese’s Senior Bowl, the QB class was deep with talent for all rounds. Every one of these guys wanted to do well and advance their draft stock by having a terrific week.
Jalen Milroe, whose full name is Jalen Oluwaseun Isaiah Milroe, of Alabama had 6,016 career passing yards with 426 completions on 663 attempts. He had 45 touchdowns against 20 picks. Known for gaining real estate with his legs, he ran 375 times for 1,577 yards and an incredible 33 scores.
RELATED: DRAFT PROFILE JALEN MILROE
In his senior year, he won the William Campbell Trophy given to the to the American college football player with the best combination of academics, community service, and on-field performance. He was also voted Second Team All-SEC at the end of his 2023 season.
Before the Senior Bowl week, Milroe had a ranking at #68 which is a projection in the third round. He had some very rocky practices which may have hurt his draft stock.
The Browns pick #33 in Round 2, #67 and #94 in Round 3, and #103 in Round 4. Of course, Milroe has ties to Browns OC Tommy Rees who was Milroe’s OC for one season at Alabama.
At the Senior Bowl, Dawgs By Nature’s Barry Shuck was able to discuss a few things with Milroe during the practice week.
Jalen Milroe – Alabama
6’-2”, 220 pounds
40 time: 4.3
Projected round: 2-3
Q: You have a great opportunity this week at the Senior Bowl to show off your skills. What are you hoping from this week?
A: There is just so much that has been presented with me being here. I am able to compete with the best of the best and learn from NFL coaches.
Q: What do you feel like you need to improve upon?
A: I feel the introduction to the NFL system is first off. Getting comfortable in a new system whether it’s footwork or timing or it’s reads. Preparation is the best thing to be successful and I got to factor that into being in those positions. It’s an introduction of what’s ahead.
Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images
Q: How did you come to the decision to leave Alabama and declare for the draft?
A: Ultimately, it all came down to putting my best foot forward. In being in college I was able to get so much experience and exposure at being at the University of Alabama. The best thing was the experience I was able to get from the coaching staff. In my freshman year, I was around Coach O’Brien transitioning to Coach Rees and then Nick Sheridan. During all this time I was able to get reps as the backup to Bryce Young. From being 18 to now, I got so much exposure, and experience and so much I have been able to learn and grow, I thought it was the best decision.
Q: Do you feel you are one of the top quarterbacks in this draft class?
A: I don’t feel that is for me to say. It’s all about how can I get better every day I have the opportunity to play football. And part of the process is how can I be better than I was yesterday. The work that you put in today is not for today but for tomorrow. The work you put in yesterday is for today. The best thing I can do is reflect on the 2024 year and find a weakness and turn it into a strength. Narrow that focus as a whole and focus on things that make me unique.
Q: Somebody mentioned a comparison with your skills and Lamar Jackson. Your thoughts?
A: Lamar Jackson is very dominant and it’s been evident to how he’s played this season for someone who’s inspired to go to the NFL just seeing as he takes his game to the next level each and every year him being the top of the league. That’s inspiring for sure as a young quarterback. That definitely puts a smile to my face and I definitely love watching. Secretly, I am actually a Ravens fan and growing up I pulled for Baltimore.
Q: What do you offer an NFL team?
A: I offer a great leader and a quarterback that is willing to do whatever it takes to win whether holding a clipboard or on the field producing.
Q: With playing for Coach Nick Saban before this past year, you end up under a huge microscope with a huge roller coaster of emotions. Who do you lean on for support?
A: I’m truly firm on family and faith. I reflect on that as much as possible as I go on this journey of life. When hardship comes, I know I have a great support system around me. I know I can’t do everything by myself. I don’t believe in the words “self-made.” It takes a team, it takes a village, it takes a group of people who are like-minded and also smarter than me to get you along this process. I can remain grounded and humble. My parents are awesome. They are involved in everything. They did not miss one game of me in college whether I started or did not start. Their great moments was being around their son. I didn’t appreciate that until I left for college.
Q: Tommy Rees was your OC for one season at Alabama. He is now the OC with the Browns. Would that be an advantage for you with the familiarity?
A: I have so much respect for Coach Rees as a person and a coach. I learned so much from him and he trusted me to have the ball in my hands. He is a coach who will put in the grind. We both worked together well and achieved a lot for that one season. I would look forward for us to work together again.
Q: You played in the SEC where it seems almost every week it’s a big game. How do you handle the pressure with a good opponent?
A: First you have to breathe, you have to calm down because your blood pressure might be pumping. Everyone is going to look to you when things go bad, so you have to be calm. You have to stay focused and concentrate what is on the field and stay locked in.
Q: Against Michigan in the college football playoffs last year, you want the ball in your hands yet the ending of that game didn’t go your way. How do you handle defeat knowing this loss is finality instead of getting prepared for your next opponent?
A: I had two emotions walking off the field. The first emotion is immediate off that play. Our season is over with. The ball is in my hands the last play and I am the only one who could have changed that play. The only ones who can feel my pain is me and the OC. Could I have done something better? There’s a lot of elements in that game – could I have made a better read? Should I have checked that ball down? Could I have protected that ball more? You do that when it’s been taken away from you. My second emotion was I was appreciative of the moment. The last play yof the game, the ball was in my hands. That means they trusted me. I saw Coach Rees after the game and I told him I appreciated him. The game is all about taking risks.
Q: What do you say to the naysayers who talk about your abilities are attached to the system you played in?
A: I have to flip the page on external factors. It’s all about the mindset and how I approach the game. There are going to be doubters and naysayers. I don’t have time to breathe or get complacent. As I go along this process playing the game that I love, I would never take a great day for granted. The day I stop learning and stop getting better, is the day I need to retire.