Analyst Claims Steelers Would Take Jalen Milroe if Available at Pick No. 21
Fox Sports analyst Colin Cowherd claims the Pittsburgh Steelers will draft Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe if he's available at pick No. 21.
There is a growing belief that the Pittsburgh Steelers will use their first-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft on a quarterback if they don’t land Aaron Rodgers. Fox Sports analyst Colin Cowherd thinks they could even if they do.
Cowherd claims the Steelers will use the No. 21 overall pick on Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe if he’s still available when they’re on the clock.
“I talked to an NFL exec last night, very well-connected, and this is a keep your head on a swivel, Aaron Rodgers. I’m told the Steelers really like Jalen Milroe, 21st pick, first round. So if Aaron signs with Pittsburgh, it’s going to become Kirk Cousins,” Cowherd said on FS1’s “The Herd.” “They’re taking a quarterback. If the 21st pick, Milroe’s not taken, Pittsburgh is leaning now and taking him.”
Milroe, 22, is an intriguing prospect. Over the past two seasons, he threw for 5,678 yards, 39 touchdowns and 17 interceptions. He also rushed for 1,257 yards and 32 touchdowns.
However, there’s a very good chance he is still available at any point of the first round. Milroe currently ranks as the consensus No. 49 overall player and fourth best quarterback on the NFL Mock Draft Database big board. If the rest of the league agrees with that ranking, it would be a massive reach by Pittsburgh.
The Steelers have not been shy in their interest in Milroe, though. General manager Omar Khan, head coach Mike Tomlin and quarterbacks coach Tom Arth wined and dined the Alabama product ahead of his pro day.
Then the next day, Milroe put his elite athleticism on display, running a blazing 4.37-second 40-yard-dash. That surely helped his draft stock, but not enough to push him into the first round.
Milroe has struggled with accuracy and decision-making in the pocket. In fact, that’s what he lacked during practice at the 2025 Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama.
Milroe’s upside is worth taking a shot on, just not in the first round. The Steelers don’t have a second-round pick thanks to the DK Metcalf trade, but if he’s still available in the third round (No. 83), it’s a no-brainer.