Before every snap, Jalen Milroe bows his head—not just in prayer, but in preparation. It’s not superstition. It’s ritual. At Alabama, that moment was sacred. A silent reminder to himself: lead first, throw later. Now, in the damp air of Renton, Washington, that same ritual opens a new chapter. No crimson jersey. No Nick Saban barking in his ear. Just a third-round draft pick with a chip on his shoulder and a new head coach watching closely from the sideline. As rain dots the Seahawks practice field, the question looms quietly: is this Seattle’s quarterback of the future, or just a backup waiting to happen?

“I’m a student of the game, and I’ve got to earn the trust and respect of everyone in the locker room,” said Milroe as he wrapped up his two-day rookie minicamp. The Seahawks have brought in their eventual successor to veteran Sam Darnold. And all signs point to Milroe being the long-term answer for head coach Mike Macdonald. The Alabama alum could take over QB1 duties this season, especially if Darnold doesn’t meet expectations. So, naturally, the team has high hopes for their third-round pick.

Hopefully, Milroe knows what’s at stake, and Coach Mike isn’t leaving much room for guessing either. The HC clarified what he expects from his rookie QB moving forward. Speaking at his post-rookie minicamp media appearance, Macdonald clarified his stance on Jalen Milroe, how the team plans to use him, and what Seattle is building toward this season. Before the draft, Milroe was speculated to be someone who could switch positions because of his athleticism. So when Seattle picked him up, people started wondering if he could be the next Taysom Hill for the team. Well, HC Macdonald has made it clear that the 22-year-old is here to play QB only.

“Jalen is a quarterback through and through. He’s going to be trained to play quarterback for us,” Macdonald said. “When he’s in there, he’s going to be playing quarterback. But the athleticism is going to come to life when he’s on the field. That’s how he’s going to help us.” Taysom Hill was listed as the third-string QB behind Drew Brees and Teddy Bridgewater. But the Saints used his versatility and employed him in a variety of roles. Hill played on special teams, took snaps in offensive positions, and sometimes, the 34-year-old even ran plays as a QB in certain situations.

The Seahawks have invested heavily in their QB room this season. They signed Sam Darnold in free agency and have Drew Lock. But the team is focusing on developing their newly drafted QB. “Quarterbacks that extend the play are incredibly difficult to defend. He can kill you in the first play, the second play, the third play,” Mike said. The 37-year-old also shared how the team is planning to build Milroe’s skills.

Mike Macdonald outlines plan for developing Milroe’s skills

After clarifying that Seattle is going to use the Alabama alum only as a quarterback, Macdonald also dropped some interesting tidbits about how Seattle is planning to make Milroe their long-term quarterback solution. Praising his spirit and energy, the HC believes that Milroe is the kind of player who takes great pride in leading the team. “He’s got great energy, great competitive energy, about trying to get it right. Great command of the huddle, really takes pride in the operation.”

The William V. Campbell Trophy winner (2024), Jalen finished his last season with the Crimson Tide, racking up 2,844 passing yards and 726 rushing yards with 35 total TDs. Talking about Seattle building Milroe’s skills from the ground up, the HC said, “Coaches are doing a great job coaching him every play. And it goes for all our guys, but him especially.”

On the other hand, Milroe is hyped to start his NFL journey with the Seahawks. The rookie QB is already planning to spend as much time as possible with the coaches and his teammates. “Meeting extra with the coaching staff, getting around the guys in the room, learning, growing, because no matter what work I have, I’ve got to be the best quarterback I can be,” Milroe said at his post-rookie minicamp media appearance. “These guys have had reps in the NFL, competed at a high level, so as a young guy, all I want to do is pay respect to the veterans,” he added.

Well, with Jalen Milroe’s mindset, energy, and respect for the vets, it looks like he might be cooking up something special. It’ll be exciting to see if he can become Seattle’s next big thing under center.