If Milroe is willing to not be a full time quarterback, he could be the ultimate offensive weapon.
Throughout the Carolina Panthers franchise history, some opposing players rise above the rest as being extra annoying to play against. Julio Jones always seemed to have his best games against the Panthers, for example. I’m sure the comment section will be full of examples. The player that fits that bill currently for most fans has to be New Orleans Saints utilityman Taysom Hill. For me, at least, the level of annoyance is contributed to not only the incessant over the top praise from the announcers whenever he enters the game, but also his knack to somehow manage to get a few yards past the first down marker regardless of how far he has to go. If the Saints need eight yards, he gets 11. If they need one yard, he gets four. This type of play led me to wonder the same thing Pumbaa did upon seeing Simba for the first time in The Lion King: what if he’s on our side?
The Panthers need offensive playmakers, which is why many pundits have said that Penn State weapon Tyler Warren would not necessarily be a surprise pick at 8th overall. But what if they could get an even more explosive weapon on Day 2? A true Taysom Hill comp if he’s willing to fill that role? A player who actually played quarterback, behind Bryce Young no less? A player who ran a reported 4.37 forty yard dash at his Pro Day? Well, ladies and gentlemen, hear me out.
With the 74th pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, the Carolina Panthers (should) select Jalen Milroe, quarterback, Alabama.
Milroe is often listed in the 3rd round on most pundits’ big boards, but he’ll also get the quarterback bump and be taken higher than the mid-90s ranking he often has. He is the definition of home run threat, which is what the Panthers offense sorely needs. Milroe has the build and vision of a runningback with an arm strength that is off the charts. His main concerns as a true quarterback at the next level involve a slower processing speed and inconsistent accuracy.
Putting Milroe in that Taysom Hill role would promote his strengths while limiting his weaknesses. Let him run the ball from the quarterback position or the tailback position. Let him run the QB sneaks and tush pushes that Bryce Young physically cannot. Let him go out for short screen passes and catch the ball in space. And, on occasion, let him rip a 50 yard bomb that drops right in the bucket to keep the defense honest. Milroe would also be a threat in the RPO game, which simplifies the reads. And his threat to keep the ball would turn the usual RPOs the Panthers currently run into zone read RPOs where Milroe could actually keep the ball himself, adding another wrinkle for defenses to worry about.
Adding another offensive weapon to Dave Canales’s arsenal would allow him to really open up the playbook. He would also have a built-in emergency third quarterback on game days. Maybe Milroe could even play on punt team as the up man, allowing a litany of fake punt options. In the third round, you’ll only find incomplete players. So would you rather take a flier on a speedy but small wide receiver or runningback, or an undersized or underproducing edge rusher, or a fast but not technically sound defensive back? Or would you rather invest in a do-it-all monster who could eventually be your backup quarterback? If I’m Dan Morgan and Jalen Milroe is there at 74, I’m pulling the trigger.