When evaluating Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe, the obvious pro comparison falls to Jalen Hurts, a former starter for the Crimson Tide. The two have similar builds and playing styles, are both from the Houston area and, among other shared traits, have led Alabama to the College Football Playoff.

“If he keeps winning and getting better, he’s going to keep moving up,” an AFC area scout told Dane Brugler of The Athletic about Milroe. “He needs to keep working on some things. But watching Hurts on Sundays – why can’t Milroe do that?”

So far in 2024, Milroe has thrown for 590 yards, eight touchdowns and no interceptions while completing 67.3 percent of his passes while taking five sacks. He also passed for 156 yards and six touchdowns, the kind of numbers that, if he holds up, will have him firmly in the Heisman Trophy conversation.

Granted, that production came against Western Kentucky, USF and Wisconsin. The real test will come once the Crimson Tide get into the thick of their SEC schedule, with the first big test this Saturday against Georgia. There are also difficult matchups against Tennessee, Missouri, LSU, Oklahoma and Auburn.

But if Milroe survives this gauntlet with flying colors, he will catch the attention of the NFL and could very well be the first quarterback off the field in the 2025 draft. At the very least, he appears to be a potential first-round pick.