Man, the NFL Draft season is wild. One day you’re the next big thing, the next you’re getting side-eyed like a suspect in a crime you didn’t even commit. And for Alabama’s Jalen Milroe? The hype train hit some unexpected turbulence after his Pro Day performance. On paper, Jalen Milroe’s got the raw athleticism—legs like a track star, cannon for an arm, the type of explosiveness scouts drool over. But there’s always a catch, right? Turns out, Milroe’s Pro Day wasn’t just about showcasing speed; Alabama might’ve been playing a little game with the 40-yard numbers. And now, after the dust has settled, his NFL fate isn’t looking quite as golden as he’d hoped.

So, about that Pro Day 40-yard dash. Alabama proudly blasted out a 4.37-second time for Milroe—lightning fast for a quarterback. Only problem? That number wasn’t exactly universal. Different scouts clocked it differently, with some landing closer to the mid-4.5 range. Alabama insider Mike Rodak hopped on 247Sports with Emily Proud and dropped a truth bomb, saying, “I don’t think it’s changed as much as the 40 time might imply. And that 40 time itself was a little bit aggressive when Alabama put that 4.37 out. That was faster than what the scouts in attendance were clocking. Based on the cameras that were there and the reporters that were there, my own stopwatch had it a little more in the 4.5 range.”

Translation? Alabama might’ve, let’s say, polished the results a little to give their guy a boost. Scouts on the ground had him anywhere from 4.44 to 4.52. Still fast, but not that fast.

Look, speed was never the issue with Milroe. The real question is: Can he throw a football like an NFL quarterback, or is he just another athlete trying to force his way under center? We all know speed is cool. Speed kills. But for a quarterback? Speed doesn’t mean squat if you can’t hit a receiver in stride. And that’s where Milroe’s Pro Day took a turn for the worse. Scouts were hoping to see improved mechanics, better accuracy, and cleaner footwork. Instead, they got more of the same inconsistencies that plagued him at Alabama. The deep bombs? Pretty. The short and intermediate throws? Wobbly, mistimed, and—at times—flat-out inaccurate.

NFL scouts weren’t exactly jumping out of their seats. They’ve seen this before. A dual-threat QB who can outrun defenders but struggles with the basic 101 fundamentals of throwing the rock? That’s a tough sell. Milroe’s 2024 stats don’t lie. He threw for 2,844 yards, 16 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. Not exactly franchise QB material. And let’s not forget the number ’11’ before ‘interceptions’. That’s 22 total turnovers, which is a death sentence in the NFL.

Mike Rodak keeps it real about Jalen Milroe’s NFL Draft stance

Just because Milroe can run a 4.4 doesn’t mean he’s about to hear his name in the first round. In fact, Mike Rodak made it clear that NFL teams have way bigger concerns. “And this is what a GM in the NFL told me back in September,” Rodak said. “It’s going to matter what he does in some of these facility visits, these private workouts… How comfortable do they feel with him being a quarterback running an NFL offense?” See, Alabama’s offense let Milroe be himself—an elite athlete who could take off and make magic happen with his legs. But in the NFL? That ain’t gonna cut it. You can’t just run your way out of a collapsing pocket every time. You gotta stand in there and make the tough throws. And that’s where Milroe’s tape gets real shaky.

Rodak didn’t hold back: “He did a lot of option stuff at Alabama, obviously relied upon his legs a lot. That doesn’t necessarily translate all the time to the NFL, and being able to make the right reads and make the right throws is very important.” And that’s the biggest knock on Milroe—when the pocket breaks down, his instinct is to take off. That might work in college, but in the NFL, defensive coordinators will eat that up. You either learn to step up and make a throw, or you end up holding a clipboard.

Right now, Milroe’s draft stock is looking like a rollercoaster. Some scouts see him as a mid-to-late Day 2 pick, while others wouldn’t touch him before the fourth round. Rodak summed it up: “I think you’re still talking about a player who’s probably a second- or third-round pick. And it’s a team that takes him knowing that there’s going to be some level of risk—that his style of play, which wasn’t always successful at Alabama, might not translate to the NFL.” Translation? Somebody’s gonna take a shot on him, but they know they’re rolling the dice.

Look, Jalen Milroe is a freak athlete—no question. But that doesn’t mean he’s a lock as an NFL quarterback. The man can run, but the NFL teams aren’t drafting a running back. His deep ball is low-key legit, but the league isn’t just about launching bombs. It’s about precision, quick reads, and staying cool under pressure. Right now, Milroe’s biggest obstacle isn’t his 40-time drama or Alabama’s Pro Day shenanigans—it’s proving to teams that he can actually command an NFL offense.

Could he develop into something special? It’s up to ya’ll to think. But for now, he’s a project. And in a draft class where teams are desperate for plug-and-play quarterbacks, that’s a tough sell. If Milroe wants to change his fate, he better ace those private workouts—because right now, teams aren’t buying the hype.