Seattle Seahawks general manager John Schneider had to make a fairly awkward clarification about what quarterback Jalen Milroe said after the team drafted him.
After the Seahawks selected Milroe 92nd overall in the 2025 NFL Draft, the former Alabama quarterback told reporters that the Seahawks had told him they viewed him as the best quarterback in the draft. That implication would have meant the Seahawks had him ranked ahead of No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward, among others.
Naturally, Schneider was asked about that during a media availability on Saturday, leading to a rather awkward exchange.
“Uh, no. I don’t think he was. But it was damn close,” Schneider said when asked if Milroe actually topped the Seahawks’ quarterback board.
awkward! https://t.co/LQAEkVe61J pic.twitter.com/sWI9D0Vw77
— The Coachspeak Index (@CoachspeakIndex) April 26, 2025
Perhaps the Seahawks told that to Milroe thinking it would never get out, or maybe Milroe misheard them. Either way, it’s tough to believe that Seattle rated him that highly, even if some scouts do love certain aspects of Milroe’s game. Even Schneider’s mention of it being “close” feels like an attempt to soften the correction here.
Milroe will be a developmental project as the Seahawks prepare to entrust the quarterback job to Sam Darnold. Perhaps the organization will be a bit less effusive with their private praise in the future in light of this.
