Of all the NFL draft picks this year, Jalen Milroe will prove to be the ultimate wild card talent. His draft prospects are taking sharp turns as the draft approaches. Alabama’s star QB is easily one of the best out there, with his dual-threat capabilities and killer running. But every big star in the NFL has their limitations, and Milroe is no exception. Here’s how they could play out in a predicted landing spot for the Alabama quarterback.

First things first, there are not many quarterbacks who can run like Jalen Milroe. He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.37 seconds unofficially. Officially, he’s timed at 4.40. Those numbers put him in the same position as Lamar Jackson and Robert Griffin III. Not only that, but he has arm strength capable of making explosive deep throws. When Bryce Young left the Crimson Tide, there was unanimous hope that Milroe would step in and do better. CFB expert Scott Fisher said in an April 5 video, “He was bigger and faster. and had a stronger arm than Bryce. [T]here was a lot of hype for what he could do at Bama.” He has delivered on that hype, no doubt about it. The numbers say it all: 2,844 passing yards, 726 rushing yards, and 35 total touchdowns.

However, there are inconsistencies with Milroe. He has slipped out of the top spots in mock drafts. Despite being one of the best offensive stars in the current pool, Fisher thinks Milroe struggles to read defenses. “Part of his dual-threat tendencies in college were due to the fact that he was more willing to take off and scramble, than to make a play with his arm.” Fisher said, “With his athleticism, that isn’t bad, but he’s also struggled in reading defenses post-snap before, which is a problem since SEC defenses are very similar to NFL ones.” These are the numbers he’s finished with in his last year at Alabama. Because this problem is current, his prospects will take a hit at the draft.

This will add to Jalen Milroe’s growing list of pains that lead to him constantly dropping in mock drafts. He was once considered to be among the top 10 picks. Unfortunately, it looks like Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders will outshine him when it comes to finesse and skill. Milroe’s issues have since caused his prospect to take a hit, which now lie somewhere in the second and third rounds. The QB depth will also come into play here, but Milroe’s strengths can make him a standout in this group.

Fisher also added that his decision-making gets affected when it comes to pressure situations. “He gets a little paranoid in the pocket sometimes with good pressure, and doesn’t throw receivers open as often as he throws to the open guy.” Kalen DeBoer once said that Milroe’s pre-snap assessment of blitzes coming his way, or other pressure, needed some serious work, particularly at third downs. As good as his numbers read and predict, there are also the 11 interceptions that stick out like a sore thumb. It shows that Milroe does have an issue in that area.

Why LA Rams could use Jalen Milroe

Predicted to be the ultimate mystery of the draft, Milroe still has the potential to turn it around for whichever team he goes to. However, another expert thinks the Alabama QB should wait it out a little, as he adds a surprise landing draft for Milroe. Mike Mayock thinks the LA Rams can be a great fit for the athletic QB. The team doesn’t have a lot of need for the position, but Milroe can be an immensely valuable addition Sean McVay could use in the future.

Now that Matthew Stafford will be staying with the team, Sean McVay could use someone to pick up after him down the line. Mayock, too, thinks Milroe could maximise his skills a lot if he went to the Rams at No. 26 and sat behind Stafford. “I think he’s a 2-3 year project.” Being a protégé to Stafford could mean a huge deal to Milroe. The Rams QB once made a mammoth total of 5,038 passing yards and 41 touchdowns. If Milroe gets to learn from a veteran of this kind, there are no limits to the kind of feats he can produce on the field in the future. There’s also the $160 million tag that goes with Stafford. Milroe, if he comes close to replicating what Stafford can do, can also hope to earn a ballpark figure as salary.

What Milroe needs from the draft at the moment is an opportunity to prepare. He needs that time to work on his flaws and improve his ability to power through strong defenses. Mayock also said, “If somebody rubs this piece of coal, I think he could turn into a diamond.” Milroe can use that time to properly exploit his potential. McVay could look to invest in a talent whom he can depend on, once Stafford moves on from the Rams.