NFL Draft Notebook: Evaluating Jalen Milroe’s NFL potential; previewing FBS Week 5

This week in college football is set to deliver some of the most exciting matchups of the season, including Georgia vs. Alabama, Louisville vs. Notre Dame, and Illinois taking on Penn State in University Park. In this edition of the NFL Draft Notebook, we focus on Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe and his potential fit in the NFL. We'll also highlight five key prospects to watch, many of whom will be in action in these marquee games. To wrap things up, we'll discuss one of the more overrated defensive ends in the 2025 NFL Draft class.

Scouting Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe

This weekend features one of the biggest matchups of the year, as second-ranked Georgia takes on fourth-ranked Alabama. The game will play a pivotal role in determining the SEC champion, with these two teams, along with Texas, standing out as the top contenders in both the conference and the nation. One of the most talked-about players in this matchup is Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe, a polarizing prospect for the 2025 NFL Draft.

Milroe has shown significant improvement as a passer this season under new head coach Kalen DeBoer. His passer rating has jumped by 27 points, and he has yet to throw an interception. He’s also coming off his best performance of the year, where he completed 71% of his passes for 196 yards and two touchdowns, while adding 75 yards and two more scores on the ground in a win against Wisconsin.

Heading into this season, Milroe’s career at Alabama had its ups and downs. The former Katy, Texas star didn’t see much playing time until 2023, when he struggled early, throwing two of his six interceptions in a loss to Texas and getting benched for the South Florida game. However, after the benching, Milroe turned things around, finishing the season with a 66% completion rate, 2,834 passing yards, and 35 total touchdowns. His strong finish earned him second-team All-SEC honors.

As a draft prospect, Milroe’s dual-threat ability stands out. He possesses one of the strongest arms in the 2025 class and excels at throwing the deep ball, helping Alabama rank 10th nationally in yards per passing attempt. As a runner, Milroe’s 6’2", 220-pound frame makes him tough to bring down in the open field, and he’s willing to lower his shoulder to pick up extra yards. His physicality as a runner has drawn comparisons to former NFL MVP Cam Newton.

However, Milroe still has room for growth as a passer. His accuracy is a concern, as receivers often have to adjust to his throws, limiting their yards after the catch. He also occasionally misses wide-open targets.

Mechanically, Milroe’s footwork needs improvement. He tends to stay on his toes too often, which affects his stability and consistency. He would benefit from setting his feet and incorporating more lower-body strength into his throws. One of the things I emphasize at Blair Quarterback Academy is using the hips to generate power when throwing, something Milroe could work on.

If Milroe declares for the 2025 NFL Draft, I project him to go in the third or fourth round. His current limitations as a passer will likely push him down the draft board, and he’ll need to land on a team that runs a system like Baltimore’s or Philadelphia’s, where the quarterback plays a key role in the running game. Teams that rely on quick, timing-based passing systems may shy away from him.

Five NFL Draft prospects to watch in Week 5

Malaki Starks, S, Georgia

Georgia safety Malaki Starks will be key in slowing down Alabama’s passing attack this week. As the top safety in the 2025 NFL Draft class, Starks has cornerback-like coverage skills and excels in run support. If he delivers a standout performance on Saturday, expect NFL scouts to start viewing him as a potential top-five pick in the 2025 draft.

Cam Ward, QB, Miami

Cam Ward, Miami’s quarterback, is having a season reminiscent of former LSU star and current Washington Commanders QB Jayden Daniels' 2023 campaign. Ward has completed a career-high 72% of his passes for 1,439 yards and 14 touchdowns, while showing improved pocket presence, having taken only two sacks in four games compared to the 84 over the last two seasons. Look for him to continue his strong play against Virginia Tech on Friday night.

Ja'Corey Brooks, WR, Louisville

A key matchup this weekend pits Louisville’s 10th-ranked passing offense, which averages 320 yards per game, against Notre Dame’s 12th-ranked pass defense, allowing just 135 yards per game. Louisville wide receiver Ja'Corey Brooks, a deep threat averaging 17.5 yards per catch, will likely face Notre Dame’s Benjamin Morrison, one of the top corners in the 2025 NFL Draft. Brooks’ ability to break big plays could be crucial in this contest.

Abdul Carter, DE, Penn State

Penn State faces Illinois in a Big Ten showdown, and defensive end Abdul Carter will need to step up his game. Carter has struggled to make an impact so far this season, registering just four pressures and one sack in three games. If Penn State hopes to contain Illinois’ potent passing game, Carter will need to get more pressure on the quarterback this week.

R.J. Harvey Jr., RB, UCF

UCF is off to a surprising 3-0 start, but this week’s matchup against Colorado will be a true test of their legitimacy. Running back R.J. Harvey Jr. has been a key factor in the Knights’ success, rushing for at least 125 yards in each of the first three games. Another big performance from Harvey will be essential if UCF hopes to keep their undefeated streak alive.

NFL Draft news and notes

Season-ending setback: East Carolina cornerback Shavon Revel Jr., a top NFL Draft defensive prospect, was ruled out for the rest of the year after tearing his ACL last week. Now, another highly touted defender, LSU edge rusher Harold Perkins, will miss the remainder of the season with the same injury. Perkins suffered the ACL tear in the fourth quarter of LSU's game against UCLA. His hybrid role between linebacker and defensive end, combined with this injury, could drop his draft stock to day two in 2025 if he declares.

Moving inside: Oregon defensive end Jordan Burch might be best suited for a move to defensive tackle next season. At 6-foot-6 and 290 pounds, Burch has already shown his potential as a pass-rushing force, ranking 5th nationally in quarterback pressures over the first three games of the season. His combination of size, power, and ability to deliver explosive hits makes him a strong candidate to excel as a one-gap defensive tackle in the NFL, positioning him as one of the top prospects at the position for the 2025 NFL Draft.

Nash continues to impress: Last week, we highlighted San Jose State wide receiver Nick Nash as a sleeper in the 2025 NFL Draft, and on Saturday, he once again proved why he's one of my favorite day three prospects. Facing the undefeated Washington State Cougars, one of the toughest teams he'll go up against this season, Nash caught 16 passes for 152 yards and two touchdowns. His stellar performance earned him a spot on ESPN’s early-season Surprising Stars team, and he currently leads the nation with 50 receptions—nine more than Maryland's Tai Felton, who sits in second.

Massive tackle: One of the biggest offensive tackles in the 2025 NFL Draft is Hollin Pierce from Rutgers, who measures an impressive 6-foot-8 and weighs 344 pounds. Over the past two seasons, he has been among the top linemen in the Big Ten. Last year, he allowed just one sack and received honorable mention All-Big Ten honors. This season, his performance has improved even further, with his Pro Football Focus grade skyrocketing from 72.4 in 2023 to 90.6. As a pro prospect, his most notable attributes, aside from his massive size, are his strength and ability to control defenders once he engages. However, scouts have concerns about his mobility, making him less suited for offenses that employ zone blocking schemes. Nonetheless, a team that utilizes gap blocking schemes should consider selecting him on day three of the 2025 NFL Draft, where he could either play at right tackle or transition to guard.

Overrated: Arkansas defensive end Landon Jackson is being overrated in current projections, with some, like Walter Football, placing him as high as the 16th overall pick. This is significantly higher than the fourth-round grade I have on him, and I’d find it hard to imagine a top team using a first-round pick on him. The main issue is his lack of explosion off the edge. While his speed is decent for someone who's 6-foot-6 and 281 pounds, he lacks the burst necessary to truly challenge NFL offensive tackles. Another red flag is how often he ends up on the ground, which was particularly evident in this year’s Oklahoma State game. Jackson might carve out a role as a run-stuffing defensive end, but I don't see him developing into an elite NFL player.