Jalen Milroe, Tyler Booker, Jihaad Campbell, and counting… As expected, the 2024 batch of the Alabama Crimson Tide has been headlining the ongoing NFL Draft in Green Bay. But one Bama player that many believed ‘a sure-shot draft pick’ was not able to get himself drafted was the former Bama tight end CJ Dippre. “It didn’t go as I planned, but God always has a plan,” Dippre, who signed with the Patriots on a free agent deal, said. “I am going to keep training, and I just got off the phone with them, and on May 8, I will head up there and work hard to earn a roster spot.” Yes, CJ’s draft projection was far behind his other teammates, like Booker and Milroe, but no one expected him to go undrafted. While no one truly knows what made the NFL front offices pass on an elite TE during the draft, what if we tell you that the Tide’s QB might be responsible for Dippre’s draft fate?

After waiting for two rounds, Milroe’s time finally arrived in the 3rd round when the Seattle Seahawks selected him as the 92nd pick. But his TE teammate was still on hold. A starter for two years in Alabama and 256 receiving yards under his name in just last season, yet the draft odds did not favor Dippre. Now, you got to wonder if Milroe’s own stumbles along the way shadowed Dippre’s draft stock. Well, a renowned Bama reporter certainly thinks so.

CJ Dippre missed the cut in all seven rounds of the NFL Draft. But don’t let that fool you—he’s built for Sundays. NFL-ready size. NFL-level skill. His snub left plenty of jaws on the floor. On the April 28th episode of Locked On Bama, Luke Robinson and Jimmy Stein couldn’t believe it. Jimmy had nothing but praise for Dippre.

“I thought CJ Dippre would go in round five. I’m not saying he should have gone day two. I mean, round five I thought was the sweet spot for CJ, who goes to the combine at 6’5″, 250, which makes him perfect NFL size. He ran the third fastest time of any tight end at 4.69, and then if you’re like, ‘Oh, well he must be, you know, built like Tarzan, plays like Jane,’ well, he bench pressed more than any tight end. So he was the strongest tight end and the third fastest at the combine. Undrafted. And we’re all, ‘Well, he didn’t catch many balls.’ He caught more balls for more yards than several tight ends that were drafted. I don’t get it at all,” Jimmy Stein said.

So for Dippre, the road just got steeper. But with his size and skill? His story isn’t over—it’s just heating up. Still, the big question lingers. How did a 6’5″, 250-pound tight end with speed and strength slide through all seven rounds? Luke Robinson offered a theory. Maybe it wasn’t about Dippre at all. Maybe it was about who was throwing him the ball.

“I think… are you penalizing him for because Jalen Milroe was his quarterback? And again, let’s circle back to Jalen Milroe. I mean, he wasn’t great at picking out receivers who weren’t named Ryan Williams, Germie Bernard, or whoever the running back in the flat was. That was his kind of his thing, right?” Luke said. Simply put, Milroe’s struggles in the passing game may have cost Dippre his draft spot. But this might not be the only reason behind it.

Still, Jimmy Stein couldn’t make sense of CJ Dippre’s draft snub. Because “He caught more balls and gained more yards than several tight ends who were drafted.” Stein noted, “It doesn’t add up.” He ruled out medical or interview issues, especially since Jimmy had personally interviewed him. So, what was the real reason? Stein speculated that Dippre was projected as more of a fifth-round pick, not a second or third. “He was a league-average blocker,” explained Jimmy Stein, but with his size and skills, the whole situation just didn’t make sense.

Even Luke couldn’t believe it. “Luckily, CJ Dippre’s fall was the most controversial moment of the NFL Draft this year,” stated the Bama reporter. And Jimmy Stein agreed, saying, “True. I could’ve talked about it for 30 minutes. I was almost mad when the draft ended.” But here’s the silver lining. CJ Dippre wasn’t done yet. He took to Instagram and announced he’s signing with the Patriots as an undrafted free agent.

While Jalen Milroe seems to be blamed for Dippre’s loss, his new team’s head coach, Mike Macdonald, gives the final verdict on the new Seahawks QB.

Jalen Milroe’s NFL position with the Seahawks

Jalen Milroe isn’t changing positions—he’s a QB, and he’s sticking to it. In a Super Bowl week interview, Milroe made it clear, saying, “You never ask a zebra to be a dog.” The Seattle Seahawks agree. After drafting Milroe in the 3rd round, coach Mike McDonald confirmed that Milroe is, first and foremost, a QB. But this comes after the Seahawks’ new OC, Klink Kubiak, spent time in New Orleans with Taysom Hill, known for his multi-position role. However, for Milroe, it’s all about QB.

And Coach Mike Macdonald has a clear vision for Jalen Milroe. “Jalen is a quarterback through and through. He’s going to be trained to play quarterback for us.” While Milroe’s athleticism shines, it’s his adaptability that stands out. “When he’s in there, he’s going to be playing quarterback,” Macdonald said. It’s the ability to run both the called and uncalled plays that sets Milroe apart.

“The worst feeling in the world is you play the first play of the play perfectly on defense, you defend it. ‘All right, sweet. We did it.’ Then the guy still has the ball. You’ve got to defend the next play, sometimes a third play. He can kill you in the first play, the second play, the third play. It’s not a fun existence to live consistently. He has that ability,” the Seahawks HC said.

That’s the kind of ability you get with a 4.37-second 40-yard dash and a top speed over 21 miles per hour. But as much as his legs can make him a weapon now, the real challenge lies ahead: developing Milroe as a passer. To succeed long-term, he’ll need to complement his elite speed with elite passing skills. Now, let’s see if Milroe can rise to the hype or not.