HawkShack.com

There's our rookie QB! Shawn Alexander's nephew, and Shawn got to announce it!

I find it interesting they took Milroe over Shedeur Sanders. Milroe is more athletic but less polished. I find it fascinating that no one has picked up Sanders yet! I think they know if they choose him they get his dad as well and they don't want that. I remember what a problem that was with Jamison Winston and I think Cam Newton as well early in their careers. At this point, I have to wonder if Sanders will even get drafted and will wind up as an undrafted free agent. At any rate, this is going to be an incredible ego deflator for the Sanders clan.

A QB. Should make things interesting to see if John can strike gold twice with a 3rd round QB.

trents wrote:I find it interesting they took Milroe over Shedeur Sanders. Milroe is more athletic but less polished. I find it fascinating that no one has picked up Sanders yet! I think they know if they choose him they get his dad as well and they don't want that. I remember what a problem that was with Jamison Winston and I think Cam Newton as well early in their careers. At this point, I have to wonder if Sanders will even get drafted and will wind up as an undrafted free agent. At any rate, this is going to be an incredible ego deflator for the Sanders clan.

Whatever the reason I'm glad we have no interest in him.

He’s not as polished as Wilson was coming out of College but he has a lot of upside.
The good thing is he doesn’t have to start and can sit for a while until he’s ready to play QB.
There’s been some talk about Kubiak using him a little like Taysom Hill in NO.

What CBS Sports has to say about the pick:

Jalen Milroe QB, BAMA
OVR RK: 94 • POS RK: 4 • HT: 6-2 • WT: 217

Head coach Mike Macdonald had a front-row seat to a pair of Lamar Jackson MVP seasons in Baltimore, and Milroe is the closest athletic specimen we've seen to Jackson from a running perspective. Flashes of impressive strikes downfield and the arm strength is above-average. Needs to learn to make quicker decisions and find the check down more often, not always looking for the home run. I love this pick because it provides long-term insurance for Sam Darnold, and he won't be asked to play right away of course. (Chris Trapasso)

A+

Howell is certainly the odd man out now. Last I heard, he's still under contract with the Hawks. It's going to be a crowded QB room if the can't unload Howell. What's his contract like, anyway?

trents wrote:Howell is certainly the odd man out now. Last I heard, he's still under contract with the Hawks. It's going to be a crowded QB room if the can't unload Howell. What's his contract like, anyway?

Cheap. $1.1M this year and a UFA next year.

trents wrote:I find it interesting they took Milroe over Shedeur Sanders. Milroe is more athletic but less polished. I find it fascinating that no one has picked up Sanders yet! I think they know if they choose him they get his dad as well and they don't want that. I remember what a problem that was with Jamison Winston and I think Cam Newton as well early in their careers. At this point, I have to wonder if Sanders will even get drafted and will wind up as an undrafted free agent. At any rate, this is going to be an incredible ego deflator for the Sanders clan.

I wouldn't have taken Milroe or Sanders. I see an athletic QB, that has all physical traits in Milroe, but he isn't a pro style QB, and struggles to read the field and lacks pocket awareness. I just don't see him being the QBOTF for us, but it's a value pick, and I would love to be wrong and maybe he can have some electric plays, but the speed of the edge rushers and the way the safeties play at the line I think Milroe will struggle to adapt to the NFL level of QB. Maybe enough time watching from the sidelines he will develop into a solid starting QB, but the adjustment will be very much to a player like Justin Fields, who has tremendous athletic attributes, but can't adjust to the NFL level style of defense.

I see him more as a Lamar Jackson light type of QB. If he can get his passing game in order he could be even more effective because he’s probably a bit quicker and faster. So I see it as a high ceiling and low floor pick which is OK in the 3rd round.

Has some incredible athletic skill, but the big negative everybody talks about is accuracy. A very big concern. Not sure how you teach that.

TriCitySam wrote:Has some incredible athletic skill, but the big negative everybody talks about is accuracy. A very big concern. Not sure how you teach that.

Mechanics, starting with footwork, and a lot of patience!

I like the pick, JS has to take a shot sometime, right? High ceiling/low floor project. His initial conference call with the Seattle media was impressive, he is a well spoken kid. He knows he will be sitting for a year or two.

And if it doesn't work out, we only gave up a late 3rd and not the huge draft capitol like Lance and Fields.

trents wrote:Howell is certainly the odd man out now. Last I heard, he's still under contract with the Hawks. It's going to be a crowded QB room if the can't unload Howell. What's his contract like, anyway?

With 4 QB's under our wings, there's no reason for a team to trade anything of value for Howell as there's about a 90% chance that he'll be released. We'll end up having to eat the $1.5M. Not a bad amount, especially compared to what other teams have paid to get rid of a quarterback.

Howell is now a former Seahawk. Welcome to the new QB, Jalen Milroe. He looks the tush-push type of QB.

I watched Jalen's highlights. Seems more of a runner than a QB. Incredibly athletic, but not sure how well he'll transition to the NFL. In the NFL, especially in the playoffs, defenses kill running QBs. You have to be able pass to do well in the playoffs in the NFL. Hopefully he can transition. Good that he isn't under pressure to play immediately.

I'm definitely not a fan of the player, but I'm actually okay with the process and pick. Milroe is a classic boom-or-bust prospect with probably the highest ceiling and lowest floor of the entire class. I happen to think he's far more likely to be out of the league in 5 years rather than being on a second contract, but taking a high ceiling prospect at the most important position in the 3rd round is an okay process with me. He has no pressure for at least one, and maybe two years. That's legit development time. If the FO thinks that, in two years, they can teach Milroe how to pass, then he could be the steal of the draft.

I still think he won't get a second contract, but I'm behind buying that lottery ticket.

NorthHawk wrote:He’s not as polished as Wilson was coming out of College but he has a lot of upside.
The good thing is he doesn’t have to start and can sit for a while until he’s ready to play QB.
There’s been some talk about Kubiak using him a little like Taysom Hill in NO.

You know what if they want to invest him into the offense as a Taysom Hill 2.0... hmm I am onboard with it. Anything to help his team win

Oly wrote:I'm definitely not a fan of the player, but I'm actually okay with the process and pick. Milroe is a classic boom-or-bust prospect with probably the highest ceiling and lowest floor of the entire class. I happen to think he's far more likely to be out of the league in 5 years rather than being on a second contract, but taking a high ceiling prospect at the most important position in the 3rd round is an okay process with me. He has no pressure for at least one, and maybe two years. That's legit development time. If the FO thinks that, in two years, they can teach Milroe how to pass, then he could be the steal of the draft.

I still think he won't get a second contract, but I'm behind buying that lottery ticket.

The guy is a physical stud, that's for sure. Initially he'll probably be used in short yardage situations like the Steelers used Justin Fields as Darnold isn't much of a running threat, and that alone could make him a valuable addition and justify the pick. But his accuracy is the big bugaboo, and that might not be something that's coachable. I'm not optimistic that we drafted our QBOTF.

One thing that I do like is if the guy does succeed, as Oly said, it's going to be at an amazing level because running ability is ridiculous and if he can pass, almost impossible to defend. Seems to have a good work ethic too and want to prove himself.

Aseahawkfan wrote:One thing that I do like is if the guy does succeed, as Oly said, it's going to be at an amazing level because running ability is ridiculous and if he can pass, almost impossible to defend. Seems to have a good work ethic too and want to prove himself.

That's one of the luxuries of going into a draft with as many picks as we had. You can afford to miss on a gamble like we're making with Milroe, especially when all we're risking is a 3rd rounder.

Kinda cool Shaun Alexander got to announce his nephew.

River Dog wrote:That's one of the luxuries of going into a draft with as many picks as we had. You can afford to miss on a gamble like we're making with Milroe, especially when all we're risking is a 3rd rounder.

Most draft picks fail, especially the lower round picks. You're lucky to get one or two starters out of a draft, some ok depth, and then a bunch of people picked that won't last through training camp or their first contract. But those teams that can hit with an inordinate amount of their draft picks like we did when Pete first arrived, they become the great teams. This is John's second year without Pete. Now we'll start to see a John Draft makes the team look and perform.

I’m not sure the IOL was adequately addressed this offseason.
Do we really have confidence in Olu, Novitsky, and Sundell at Center?
JS selected Zabel as a Guard prospect but it still leaves us with last year’s underperforming group for the other Guard position and a group of potential former Tackles who will try to make a successful transition. As said in another post we haven’t done well at identifying Tackles that can be successful moving inside so for me there’s little expectation of much of a positive change to the OL productivity.
So for addressing the most pressing needs this off season I would give JS a C- and if Zabel gets moved out to Tackle because of injury to either Cross or Lucas it would drop down to a D.

An interesting note is two of the teams with very good OLs Detroit and Philadelphia picked 2 Guards (Detroit) and a Center with The Eagles getting a Center even though they just signed Jurgens to a new contract. We on the other hand in desperate need of pure Guards waited until the late rounds to get Tackles. This type of drafting is what’s got the Seahawks into the IOL mess we’ve been in for the last decade or more.

NorthHawk wrote:I’m not sure the IOL was adequately addressed this offseason.
Do we really have confidence in Olu, Novitsky, and Sundell at Center?
JS selected Zabel as a Guard prospect but it still leaves us with last year’s underperforming group for the other Guard position and a group of potential former Tackles who will try to make a successful transition. As said in another post we haven’t done well at identifying Tackles that can be successful moving inside so for me there’s little expectation of much of a positive change to the OL productivity.
So for addressing the most pressing needs this off season I would give JS a C- and if Zabel gets moved out to Tackle because of injury to either Cross or Lucas it would drop down to a D.

An interesting note is two of the teams with very good OLs Detroit and Philadelphia picked 2 Guards (Detroit) and a Center with The Eagles getting a Center even though they just signed Jurgens to a new contract. We on the other hand in desperate need of pure Guards waited until the late rounds to get Tackles. This type of drafting is what’s got the Seahawks into the IOL mess we’ve been in for the last decade or more.

What are going to do at RT with Lucas's knee not recovering well?

I guess try one of the draftees and if that doesn’t work, maybe move Zabel to RT.

NorthHawk wrote:I guess try one of the draftees and if that doesn’t work, maybe move Zabel to RT.

That's what I'm waiting to find out. Is this truly a drafted guard or protection if Lucas is done, then we're stuck looking for a guard again.

As well, they have to decide if they want to take the 5th year option on Cross or try to extend his contract and if not, who will replace Cross next year?

NorthHawk wrote:As well, they have to decide if they want to take the 5th year option on Cross or try to extend his contract and if not, who will replace Cross next year?

I don't see why they wouldn't extend Cross. They've cleared enough cap space. Cross is doing well enough unless he's pricing himself too high because he doesn't want to stay in Seattle or has lost his mind.

I thought Abe was healed? He seemed fine at end of season. They held him out of last game for precaution.

And I imagine Cross will be resigned in a few days.

Stream Hawk wrote:I thought Abe was healed? He seemed fine at end of season. They held him out of last game for precaution.

And I imagine Cross will be resigned in a few days.

I don't know if he is healed. He missed half the season. If the injury occurs again, I would consider that likely done.

I’m hoping (again this year) that ONE of the new OL really takes hold of one of the interior positions and claims it as his own.
That would help a lot in solidifying the IOL and give us hope. But the FO has to have patience because there is a lot to learn even for just making the jump to the NFL let alone learning a new position and all of its responsibilities.

But I’ve been hoping for that for more than a decade and it’s never happened.

Stream Hawk wrote:And I imagine Cross will be resigned in a few days.

This aged well;) https://www.fieldgulls.com/2025/4/28/24419901/report-seahawks-exercise-charles-cross-fifth-year-option-franchise-first-nfl-news

It makes sense. He’s doing well enough and it’s only $17.5 M (as if $17.5M isn’t much money).
Hopefully he plays well enough to get en extension.

Stream Hawk wrote:And I imagine Cross will be resigned in a few days.

Stream Hawk wrote:This aged well;) https://www.fieldgulls.com/2025/4/28/24419901/report-seahawks-exercise-charles-cross-fifth-year-option-franchise-first-nfl-news

Good call.

This was the first time in team history that we picked up the 5th year option on a #1 draft pick, the only team not to have done so. Of course, there were a number of years that we didn't have a first-round pick having traded it away, but even so, that's a lot of picks that weren't good enough for us to keep after 4 years. The 5th year option was put into the CBA in 2011.

Hopefully he will play well enough to get an extension after the 5th year, too when the cost really goes up.

NorthHawk wrote:Hopefully he will play well enough to get an extension after the 5th year, too when the cost really goes up.

Yeah, I think that's why they chose to pick up the option rather than offer an extension. He's been a decent blocker, but not an All-Pro worth being paid within the top 5 of OT's. Picking up the option puts off that long term decision another year.

As far as Abe Lucas goes, yes, he's supposedly healed, but he's had such a chronic injury history that it makes sense to have a backup plan ready to go. When healthy, he's a very good OT.

It was noticeable when Lucas was playing how much better the Offense played and how it declined when he got injured.

trents wrote:I find it interesting they took Milroe over Shedeur Sanders. Milroe is more athletic but less polished. I find it fascinating that no one has picked up Sanders yet! I think they know if they choose him they get his dad as well and they don't want that. I remember what a problem that was with Jamison Winston and I think Cam Newton as well early in their careers. At this point, I have to wonder if Sanders will even get drafted and will wind up as an undrafted free agent. At any rate, this is going to be an incredible ego deflator for the Sanders clan.

Shedeur, if accounts are correct of his 'interviews' had no desire to be a backup QB, which is what he would be in Seattle for at least 1 or more years. Shedeur made it clear it was his way (or his Daddy's) or don't waste your time. And he got his wish! What more could he ask for? He's far from being a starter in the NFL except in his own world. Would of been a terrible pick and seriously, could you see him thousands of miles from his crib out in the Great Northwest? Probably one of the last places he would really try to work for.

Milroe knows he isn't ready to start and I'm sure he gave a more traditional interview to the teams that could draft him. 3rd round was his predictor and that's exactly where we drafted him. I wasn't expecting a QB in the draft, but no complaints.

I could not be happier that we did not take Sanders. He's an entitled nepo baby that would have looked much more ordinary had he been playing anywhere but for his father. The NFL draft saw through the mirage for good reason.

trents wrote:I find it interesting they took Milroe over Shedeur Sanders. Milroe is more athletic but less polished. I find it fascinating that no one has picked up Sanders yet! I think they know if they choose him they get his dad as well and they don't want that. I remember what a problem that was with Jamison Winston and I think Cam Newton as well early in their careers. At this point, I have to wonder if Sanders will even get drafted and will wind up as an undrafted free agent. At any rate, this is going to be an incredible ego deflator for the Sanders clan.

jshawaii22 wrote:Shedeur, if accounts are correct of his 'interviews' had no desire to be a backup QB, which is what he would be in Seattle for at least 1 or more years. Shedeur made it clear it was his way (or his Daddy's) or don't waste your time. And he got his wish! What more could he ask for? He's far from being a starter in the NFL except in his own world. Would of been a terrible pick and seriously, could you see him thousands of miles from his crib out in the Great Northwest? Probably one of the last places he would really try to work for.

Milroe knows he isn't ready to start and I'm sure he gave a more traditional interview to the teams that could draft him. 3rd round was his predictor and that's exactly where we drafted him. I wasn't expecting a QB in the draft, but no complaints.

c_hawkbob wrote:I could not be happier that we did not take Sanders. He's an entitled nepo baby that would have looked much more ordinary had he been playing anywhere but for his father. The NFL draft saw through the mirage for good reason.

I posted this in the other thread we have going on about the prank phone call to Shedeur:

Apparently there was more than just the hype surrounding Shedeur Saunders that was responsible for his dramatic fall in the draft:

“He torpedoed himself… his attitude off the field at the combine… his dad didn’t help him. ‘I don’t want this entitled person on my team,’” an NFL owner spat at Boomer Esiason. Ouch. The league’s suits had spoken: Talent ain’t enough if your swagger smells like entitlement. And just like that, Sanders’s draft stock nosedived faster than a TikTok trend.

One anonymous coach groaned, “The worst formal interview I’ve ever been in… He’s so entitled. He takes unnecessary sacks.” Translation: Dude brought a Lamborghini ego to a minivan league.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nfl/nf ... d1c1&ei=16

Perhaps the guy deserved to have the prank pulled on him.