Will Jalen Milroe be the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft?

Jalen Milroe the athlete has been intriguing NFL scouts since he burst onto the scene for Alabama in relief of injured Bryce Young against Arkansas in 2022. Now, Jalen Milore the quarterback has become more than intriguing, and after a career-best performance on the national stage against Georgia this past weekend, Milroe has put himself firmly in contention for the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 draft.

Coming into Saturday night's game, Georgia's Carson Beck was taken more seriously as a potential No. 1 pick candidate, but it was Milroe who outperformed Beck and showed how far he has progressed as a passer under new head coach Kalen DeBoer and offensive coordinator Nick Sheridan.

Milroe completed 27-of-33 passes for 374 yards and two touchdowns while adding 117 rushing yards and two more touchdowns on the ground. Milroe became the first player in the AP poll era with 300+ passing yards, 100+ rushing yards, and two rushing touchdowns in a game against a Top 5 opponent.

He also became the first player in at least 20-years with four straight games with at least two passing and two rushing touchdowns.

Milroe became the favorite in the Heisman odds market following his dynamic performance against a defense that had proven to be impervious to shredding. It wasn't that Milroe used his legs, long considered his best asset, or even just hitting a few deep balls that inflated his numbers.

Instead, Milroe was a field general. He was firmly in command of the offense from the opening whistle. He completed passes at every level of the field, hitting deep, intermediate, and short throws, consistently taking what the defense was willing to give. And yes, of course he used his legs.

Milroe has long been regarded as one of the best overall athletes in college football, but his evolution as a passer has become all the more intriguing for NFL scouts. And if he can improve as much as he has from one year to the next in a college system, what could he be in the right system with the right coaching at the next level?

Mel Kiper appeared on ESPN's Get Up on Tuesday morning to provide his analysis on Milroe, claiming that the Alabama QB is now firmly in contention to be the top QB off the board in 2025, which would put him firmly in contention to be the No. 1 overall pick.

Florida QB Anthony Richardson was taken No. 5 overall in the 2023 NFL Draft after just a partial season as the Gators starting QB. Richardson had all the physical tools, similar to Milroe. Richardson is a little bigger and has a bigger arm, but Milroe is faster, a better overall athlete, and is more accurate passer.

Alabama fans have long been torn over Milroe, with many spending last season arguing that Ty Simpson should be starting and questioning whether Milroe was a real QB or not. Those doubters were finally silenced, hopefully for good, with the way Milroe tore apart a Kirby Smart defense and led the Crimson Tide to the biggest win of the college football season to date.

Milroe has raised his stock through four games, and if his play continues at the level we've seen so far in 2024, Milroe will be in contention to be the No. 1 QB in the 2025 draft, and perhaps the No. 1 overall pick.