Jaylen Milroe

[Who Dee Knee]

Milroe was invited and accepted an invitation to attend the draft. I don’t think Goodell wants him in his suite all Thursday night; face it, the NFL believes he is going in the first round.

Despite not living within their fears, I predict Tomlin and Art will panic and overrule Kahn/Weidel and be the team that picks Milroe, whether at 1.21 or later in the first round in a trade-down scenario.

If Milroe does make it, it will have been an easy decision. But if not, the loss of another quality pick ala Kenny Pickett will have consequences for years; not only the immediate talent-drain, but also whether to spend a premiere pink on another QB in 2026.

Thoughts?

[K_C_]

I don’t think anybody knows how Milroe will turn out and again I remember how many folks were certain Lamar could never develop as a passer and should be converted to WR.

Much like Fields, Milroe is an elite runner (I’d argue Milroe is a more effective runner than Fields because Milroe is not only blazing fast but runs with more power.) A young QB with all the tools like Milroe would be entertaining as fuck to watch. Mason will not be entertaining.

Sure Milroe’s arm is scattershot at this point and the Steelers under Tomlin have no reputation for developing young QB’s. That’s 100% accurate but I will once again say that if Milroe sinks and doesn’t swim in his rookie year in Pittsburgh, I think shit is going to seriously go south with this team

6-11 is a real possibility and if that happens, not only is Tomlin probably gone but the team would finally be in the mix for one of the top tier QB’s in the 2026 draft.

Drafting Milroe is a win/win proposition to me. He develops quickly? Great. He’s terrible and I think Mason and Milroe (with Broderick Jones at left tackle and an injury prone rookie, for all practical purposes at RT) along with an aging defense and things are going to go very badly for Tomlin and the Steelers.

[jebrick]

Any QB they draft in any round needs time on the bench to learn. Shough might be the closest to starting but he is at his ceiling. If he is taken, it is hopefully on day 3.

Milroe has really bad mechanical problem. His stance in the pocket is like a RB because he is ready to run and not really pass. He is boom/bust and will take a ton of work to get his mechanics of his lower body fixed. At worst, they can make him a RB. His floor is below anyone not named Leonard in this draft.

[Gonzo]

Saw Jaxson Dart pulled out of attending the first night -- maybe knows percentage f being picked has lowered?

[Gonzo]

two things about lamar jackson
i was one of the few that thought it was a good pick;) I liked his passion for football
two and much more importantly -- the ravens built an entire team and offensive scheme around what he does best -- and something that was newish in the NFL.
This version of the Pittsburgh Steelers has Zero ability to do that -- not developmentally, scheme-wise or in the ability to spot and organize the talent required. They will plug and play and/or mimic ... never lead

[Gonzo]

and by some of the comments -- why not just draft jeanty and teach him to throw

[jebrick]

Saw Jaxson Dart pulled out of attending the first night -- maybe knows percentage f being picked has lowered?

I would not read anything into it. He does not want the stress of being in the green room vs sitting at home.

[jebrick]

and by some of the comments -- why not just draft jeanty and teach him to throw

He will go before the steelers pick

milroe is the lottery pick in this draft. His ceiling his higher than any other prospect but that floor is very low for a 1st round reach. Per the B2B theory you roll the dice. Ariens has said never draft a QB that is not accurate in college which is where I tend to sit. YMMV

[Gonzo]

and by some of the comments -- why not just draft jeanty and teach him to throw

He will go before the steelers pick

milroe is the lottery pick in this draft. His ceiling his higher than any other prospect but that floor is very low for a 1st round reach. Per the B2B theory you roll the dice. Ariens has said never draft a QB that is not accurate in college which is where I tend to sit. YMMV

dont get me wrong -- I agree that he is a lottery ticket and a fantastic athlete
my jeanty comment was half tongue-in-cheek
I dont know enough about MIlroes personality to make a firm judgement.
where a player goes often is a large factor in whether they succeed -- and while milroe may flourish somewhere IMO it wont be with the steelers -- they are impatient, seemingly arbitrary sometimes in player decisions and frozen in time. They need a certain type of QB that can rise above the Bland. Ben, Jayden Daniels maybe ....

[Gonzo]

Saw Jaxson Dart pulled out of attending the first night -- maybe knows percentage f being picked has lowered?

I would not read anything into it. He does not want the stress of being in the green room vs sitting at home.

you are probably right -- with the state of QB needs/drafting in the NFL seems he and Milroe will both go somewhere on day 1

[jebrick]

and by some of the comments -- why not just draft jeanty and teach him to throw

He will go before the steelers pick

milroe is the lottery pick in this draft. His ceiling his higher than any other prospect but that floor is very low for a 1st round reach. Per the B2B theory you roll the dice. Ariens has said never draft a QB that is not accurate in college which is where I tend to sit. YMMV

dont get me wrong -- I agree that he is a lottery ticket and a fantastic athlete
my jeanty comment was half tongue-in-cheek
I dont know enough about MIlroes personality to make a firm judgement.
where a player goes often is a large factor in whether they succeed -- and while milroe may flourish somewhere IMO it wont be with the steelers -- they are impatient, seemingly arbitrary sometimes in player decisions and frozen in time. They need a certain type of QB that can rise above the Bland. Ben, Jayden Daniels maybe ....

Milroe is very very smart but so is Joshua Dobbs. I have no doubt he did well in interviews. I will not be surprised if he does go in the 1st round and I have accepted that the Steelers will take him if he is there. That being said, there are not many QBs that get that accuracy fixed in the pros that they did not show in college.

[tbsteel]

According to a birdie that has been on point in the past:

*Dulac's report is wrong. The Steelers have a first round grade on 1 QB: Cam Ward. No other QBs.

**But please note, they also didn't have a first round grade on Pickett, but Art II made the call on that one to get the top QB on their board that year. If Sanders is there? Maybe they do something similar.

*Hearing they like Grant or Harmon. They also like Shough, but that would be later in the draft.

*They don't like either of Dart of Milroe.

[steelclan]

Any QB they draft in any round needs time on the bench to learn. Shough might be the closest to starting but he is at his ceiling. If he is taken, it is hopefully on day 3.

Milroe has really bad mechanical problem. His stance in the pocket is like a RB because he is ready to run and not really pass. He is boom/bust and will take a ton of work to get his mechanics of his lower body fixed. At worst, they can make him a RB. His floor is below anyone not named Leonard in this draft.

Don't like Milroe but disagree on his floor. At the very least you're getting an elite athlete with running skills arguably in the Lamar Jackson realm.

Other Qbs in this draft don't come close to that.

My big issue with Milroe is the accuracy, it is all over the place and leads to some cringe worthy turnovers.

[jebrick]

Any QB they draft in any round needs time on the bench to learn. Shough might be the closest to starting but he is at his ceiling. If he is taken, it is hopefully on day 3.

Milroe has really bad mechanical problem. His stance in the pocket is like a RB because he is ready to run and not really pass. He is boom/bust and will take a ton of work to get his mechanics of his lower body fixed. At worst, they can make him a RB. His floor is below anyone not named Leonard in this draft.

Don't like Milroe but disagree on his floor. At the very least you're getting an elite athlete with running skills arguably in the Lamar Jackson realm.

Other Qbs in this draft don't come close to that.

My big issue with Milroe is the accuracy, it is all over the place and leads to some cringe worthy turnovers.

but for a QB, that is a low floor.

[jebrick]

According to a birdie that has been on point in the past:

*Dulac's report is wrong. The Steelers have a first round grade on 1 QB: Cam Ward. No other QBs.

**But please note, they also didn't have a first round grade on Pickett, but Art II made the call on that one to get the top QB on their board that year. If Sanders is there? Maybe they do something similar.

*Hearing they like Grant or Harmon. They also like Shough, but that would be later in the draft.

*They don't like either of Dart of Milroe.

I just saw a report that they are looking to trade down so we will see. It will be a long 3.5 hours to wait for their pick

[K_C_]

Any QB they draft in any round needs time on the bench to learn. Shough might be the closest to starting but he is at his ceiling. If he is taken, it is hopefully on day 3.

Milroe has really bad mechanical problem. His stance in the pocket is like a RB because he is ready to run and not really pass. He is boom/bust and will take a ton of work to get his mechanics of his lower body fixed. At worst, they can make him a RB. His floor is below anyone not named Leonard in this draft.

Don't like Milroe but disagree on his floor. At the very least you're getting an elite athlete with running skills arguably in the Lamar Jackson realm.

Other Qbs in this draft don't come close to that.

My big issue with Milroe is the accuracy, it is all over the place and leads to some cringe worthy turnovers.

I think it's important to remember that the Steelers tried to sign and expected Justin Fields to be their starting QB this year....until the Jets made Fields he could not turn down.

The closest QB in this draft to Fields is Milroe. Obviously he has plenty of warts, as most young QB's do, but he's an elite runner right now in Arthur Smith's run heavy offense.

Just like Jalen Hurts was/is in Philly's run heavy offense.

I think the Steelers really wanted Fields to be their starter and those plans went to shit. I will not be in the least bit surprised if Milroe is the pick.

If the Steelers can trade back into the second round, there is absolutely no doubt Milroe will be the pick.

[bradshaw2ben]

I don’t think anybody knows how Milroe will turn out and again I remember how many folks were certain Lamar could never develop as a passer and should be converted to WR.

Much like Fields, Milroe is an elite runner (I’d argue Milroe is a more effective runner than Fields because Milroe is not only blazing fast but runs with more power.) A young QB with all the tools like Milroe would be entertaining as fuck to watch. Mason will not be entertaining.

Sure Milroe’s arm is scattershot at this point and the Steelers under Tomlin have no reputation for developing young QB’s. That’s 100% accurate but I will once again say that if Milroe sinks and doesn’t swim in his rookie year in Pittsburgh, I think shit is going to seriously go south with this team

6-11 is a real possibility and if that happens, not only is Tomlin probably gone but the team would finally be in the mix for one of the top tier QB’s in the 2026 draft.

Drafting Milroe is a win/win proposition to me. He develops quickly? Great. He’s terrible and I think Mason and Milroe (with Broderick Jones at left tackle and an injury prone rookie, for all practical purposes at RT) along with an aging defense and things are going to go very badly for Tomlin and the Steelers.

In the same number of career games:
Jackson had 655 att for 4132 yds, averaged 6.3 yds per rush, 108.7 ypg, and had 50 TDs.
Milroe had 375 att for 1577 yds , averaged 4.2 yds per rush, 41.5 ypg., and had 33 TD.

They were orders of magintude different as far as running threat in their offenses.

I'll give you that it's not impossible Milroe improves as a passer but consider that the advantages he had at his receivers isn't going to be his NFL situation AND it's likely his coaching will be worse.

To me, the cost of taking Milroe in round 1 is mainly that they take themselves out of the 2026 QB class, where it is probably going to be the case that the 3rd or 4th best QB in the class will be available at, say, 10-- a reachable location–– and that that 3rd or 4th best QB will be better than Milroe and more ready to play.

So, the bet is: Milroe will develop in Pittsburgh, in this offense, with these receivers, with this coaching, to become better than Lamar Jackson in the postseason... vs adding a tranches player to a team that needs them on both sides of the ball AND will be in a great position to get a premium QB in 2026.

Which way are you leaning on that?

[bradshaw2ben]

and by some of the comments -- why not just draft jeanty and teach him to throw

Well, they did have Savion Williams in for a visit and they signed Kenny Gainwell. Boith pretty dang good QBs in their time.

[bradshaw2ben]

and by some of the comments -- why not just draft jeanty and teach him to throw

He will go before the steelers pick

milroe is the lottery pick in this draft. His ceiling his higher than any other prospect but that floor is very low for a 1st round reach. Per the B2B theory you roll the dice. Ariens has said never draft a QB that is not accurate in college which is where I tend to sit. YMMV

See my question above ^^^. My theory is you roll the dice at a price that doesn't keep you out of the QB draft market for 3-5 years. You only roll the dice for more than that if you:

A. believe this prospect will be an elite NFL QB in the postseason world
B. see a clearly defined and attainable path for this developmental QB to reach that and have a plan for how to get there

I have zero faith in this team on B and there are probably 15 people in the world who can truly see "elite" in a raw prospect and the same number who might be able to develop one. If that. How many of them are on the South Side?

[bradshaw2ben]

I dont know enough about MIlroes personality to make a firm judgement.

Honestly, Milroe's personality and drive is his #1 selling point. If you read my B2B Directional State article on the front page, you'll know that he graduated in 2.5 years and added a masters in 6 months... said he was looking forward to being able to spend more time working on an studying football. A+

[K_C_]

I don’t think anybody knows how Milroe will turn out and again I remember how many folks were certain Lamar could never develop as a passer and should be converted to WR.

Much like Fields, Milroe is an elite runner (I’d argue Milroe is a more effective runner than Fields because Milroe is not only blazing fast but runs with more power.) A young QB with all the tools like Milroe would be entertaining as fuck to watch. Mason will not be entertaining.

Sure Milroe’s arm is scattershot at this point and the Steelers under Tomlin have no reputation for developing young QB’s. That’s 100% accurate but I will once again say that if Milroe sinks and doesn’t swim in his rookie year in Pittsburgh, I think shit is going to seriously go south with this team

6-11 is a real possibility and if that happens, not only is Tomlin probably gone but the team would finally be in the mix for one of the top tier QB’s in the 2026 draft.

Drafting Milroe is a win/win proposition to me. He develops quickly? Great. He’s terrible and I think Mason and Milroe (with Broderick Jones at left tackle and an injury prone rookie, for all practical purposes at RT) along with an aging defense and things are going to go very badly for Tomlin and the Steelers.

In the same number of career games:
Jackson had 655 att for 4132 yds, averaged 6.3 yds per rush, 108.7 ypg, and had 50 TDs.
Milroe had 375 att for 1577 yds , averaged 4.2 yds per rush, 41.5 ypg., and had 33 TD.

They were orders of magintude different as far as running threat in their offenses.

I'll give you that it's not impossible Milroe improves as a passer but consider that the advantages he had at his receivers isn't going to be his NFL situation AND it's likely his coaching will be worse.

To me, the cost of taking Milroe in round 1 is mainly that they take themselves out of the 2026 QB class, where it is probably going to be the case that the 3rd or 4th best QB in the class will be available at, say, 10-- a reachable location–– and that that 3rd or 4th best QB will be better than Milroe and more ready to play.

So, the bet is: Milroe will develop in Pittsburgh, in this offense, with these receivers, with this coaching, to become better than Lamar Jackson in the postseason... vs adding a tranches player to a team that needs them on both sides of the ball AND will be in a great position to get a premium QB in 2026.

Which way are you leaning on that?

I'm not good at pulling posts from the past and you obviously know this site better than anybody. Please pull the posts from after Lamar Jackson was drafted. That would be one helluva read for everybody.

There's lots of ways to look at Milroe at Alabama last season and not having Nick Saban around anymore hurt that entire team. At times, they looked completely rudderless. Not having Saban around obviously hurt Milroe more than anybody. Proof? With Saban in 2023, Milroe threw 23 TD passes and only had 6 INT's. Had a QB rating of 172.2. This past year with Saban in retirement, Milroe only threw 16 TD's and had 11 INT's. His QB rating was 148.8. Losing Saban was huge.

Those are interesting stats comparing Jackson and Milroe and it shows how inexperienced Milroe still is. I'm obviously not saying Jaylen Milroe is going to become what Lamar Jackson has turned into, but I disagree with your statement that drafting Milroe early takes the Steelers out of next year's QB draft derby. If anything, drafting Milroe gives them a much, much better shot at drafting in the top 5 or top 10 in 2026 than drafting experienced QB's like Will Howard, Kyle McCord or Tyler Shough.

You want to see the NHALS guaranteed? Draft those guys. Milroe will either be really, really good or he'll be really, really bad.

Best of all, that fucking dude will be entertaining.

[Steeldrama]

There's lots of ways to look at Milroe at Alabama last season and not having Nick Saban around anymore hurt that entire team. At times, they looked completely rudderless. Not having Saban around obviously hurt Milroe more than anybody.

Bama fans knew that Deboer would be a step down from Saban.

What WE didn’t know was that step would be more like a cliff.

I (stupidly) thought that Deboer would have a Mike Penix-like impact on Milroe.

I (stupidly) thought I’d see 3 STUD WR sets with Milroe poised to show off his deep ball accuracy.

I’m guessing that losing his Washington OC Ryan Grubb last minute to the Seahawks didn’t help Deboer and his offense, but man 2024 SUCKED out loud for Tide Fans.

Milroe regressed BADLY.

A coach that knows quarterbacks needs to draft him, rebuild him, restore his confidence, EVERYTHING.

I believe it can be done.

GREAT Kid.

Being the Milroe fan that I am, I HOPE he is NOT drafted by my once beloved Pittsburgh Steelers.

YOU SUCK, Tomlin!

Somebody PLEASE lock Cool Shades in a closet on draft night.

Go Braves!
Go Skenes!!
GOOOOOOO LIVVVVVVYYYYY (Enjoy your retirement)!!!!!!

[Gonzo]

to which team/coach a guy is drafted is nearly as important as his talent -- Milroe shoud hope and pray he isnt drafted by the Steelers

And I am with some others above -- I am really hoping saner minds prevail and maybe the postseason embarrassment and pickett debacle have lessened Tomlins power some ... they Need DL, RB, WR and DB badly ... take solid picks BPA this year and with all those extra picks get the QB next year. trade pickens and get some picks back this year -- I didnt like the metcalf trade but if it is coupled with losing pickens for some nice draft slots ... I can live with it

i would also say they need TE badly but I know thats not happening -

[Orangesteel]

Steelers have the worst coaches in the NFL. I mean that. I think Danny Smith has done some fine things the last few years but the group as a whole is ass.

If anyone thinks Tomlin will be able to get the absolute best out of Milroe, Sanders or Dart for that matter, they are extraordinarily high and I’d like some of what they are smoking.

Tomlin doesn’t develop shit. He will sink another first round QB.

Do NOT draft a first round QB.

[steelclan]

I don’t think anybody knows how Milroe will turn out and again I remember how many folks were certain Lamar could never develop as a passer and should be converted to WR.

Much like Fields, Milroe is an elite runner (I’d argue Milroe is a more effective runner than Fields because Milroe is not only blazing fast but runs with more power.) A young QB with all the tools like Milroe would be entertaining as fuck to watch. Mason will not be entertaining.

Sure Milroe’s arm is scattershot at this point and the Steelers under Tomlin have no reputation for developing young QB’s. That’s 100% accurate but I will once again say that if Milroe sinks and doesn’t swim in his rookie year in Pittsburgh, I think shit is going to seriously go south with this team

6-11 is a real possibility and if that happens, not only is Tomlin probably gone but the team would finally be in the mix for one of the top tier QB’s in the 2026 draft.

Drafting Milroe is a win/win proposition to me. He develops quickly? Great. He’s terrible and I think Mason and Milroe (with Broderick Jones at left tackle and an injury prone rookie, for all practical purposes at RT) along with an aging defense and things are going to go very badly for Tomlin and the Steelers.

In the same number of career games:
Jackson had 655 att for 4132 yds, averaged 6.3 yds per rush, 108.7 ypg, and had 50 TDs.
Milroe had 375 att for 1577 yds , averaged 4.2 yds per rush, 41.5 ypg., and had 33 TD.

They were orders of magintude different as far as running threat in their offenses.

I'll give you that it's not impossible Milroe improves as a passer but consider that the advantages he had at his receivers isn't going to be his NFL situation AND it's likely his coaching will be worse.

To me, the cost of taking Milroe in round 1 is mainly that they take themselves out of the 2026 QB class, where it is probably going to be the case that the 3rd or 4th best QB in the class will be available at, say, 10-- a reachable location–– and that that 3rd or 4th best QB will be better than Milroe and more ready to play.

So, the bet is: Milroe will develop in Pittsburgh, in this offense, with these receivers, with this coaching, to become better than Lamar Jackson in the postseason... vs adding a tranches player to a team that needs them on both sides of the ball AND will be in a great position to get a premium QB in 2026.

Which way are you leaning on that?

Never said PS would develop him. I wouldn't draft him until 3rd at the earliest and that applies to all the QBs not named Cam Ward. Do not like this QB class at all.

As to the Lamar comp. Yes, Lamar is a better runner than Milroe, however, I don't think that gap is as big as you do.

Fair chunk of Jackson's yardage? Came against mediocre ACC teams. Milroe had big rushing days v LSU and Georgia. I doubt Lamar faced a college team that good on defense consistently. Clemson in 2017 is only one that comes to mind (17 carries for 64 yards). Overall, not a huge take to state: SEC defenses are significantly better than defenses in the ACC.

How much does that weigh in stats? Tough to say but I'll put it this way it is easier to gain a bundle of rushing yards v BC and Virginia than it is Georgia/LSU.

[Dan Smith--BYU]

Hargrave and Urbik developed. But not with us.

[bradshaw2ben]

@K_C_ its not that playing rookie Milroe at QB won’t have them end up with a shitty record, it’s that there’s close to zero percent chance they’d spend another 1st round pick on a QB the following year. It’ll be a self-imposed doubling down on Milroe that will be the problem in 2026 and 2027 or more.

[Who Dee Knee]

@K_C_ its not that playing rookie Milroe at QB won’t have them end up with a shitty record, it’s that there’s close to zero percent chance they’d spend another 1st round pick on a QB the following year. It’ll be a self-imposed doubling down on Milroe that will be the problem in 2026 and 2027 or more.

This is my fear also. I can just hear Art and Tomlin saying next year that Milroe made progress late in his rookie year, and because of that they need to stick with him. There goes our hopes of getting a franchise QB in 2026.

[Stillerz Bar]

My big concern is the "We do what do" mentality of the Steelers. As was mentioned earlier, the Ravens and many other teams have rebuilt their offense based on the talent the have / get, especially around QBs. If you look at our offense over the last few years, it hasn't changed regardless of whether it was Fields, Wilson, Rudolph or Duck - run heavy, no passes over the middle with an occasional bomb down the field. Oh, and heaven forbid we get a lead..... when that happens we have to get super conservative and hand on for the W.

The only times we saw something different were A) when Ben threw out the playbook because we were way behind and (gasp) we scored points quickly, and B) When Wilson went rogue against the Bungles and we had the best offensive game in years.

This coaching staff seems to have no ability, or more accurately, no desire, to adjust so who is under center is sadly, unlikely to make much f a difference. It is very frustrating as a lifetime fan in my 60s to know that we are in for a long road of mediocrity until / unless something huge happens to change things.

[K_C_]

@K_C_ its not that playing rookie Milroe at RB won’t have them end up with a shitty record, it’s that there’s close to zero percent chance they’d spend another 1st round pick on a QB the following year. It’ll be a self-imposed doubling down on Milroe that will be the problem in 2026 and 2027 or more.

You very possibly could be right but I think it depends on just how terrible Milroe is.

If Tomlin’s NHALS goes bye bye and the Steelers win 5 games with Milroe and Mason playing utterly terrible (and with Broderick Jones at LT, both could die) I’m certain the Steelers wouldn’t pass on a a generational QB prospect in the draft just because they took Jaylen Milroe the previous year.

Also, if the NHALS goes bye bye, Tomlin will probably step down too. That would devastate him.