Why a Packers Milroe trade is too good for Seahawks to refuse
The Seattle Seahawks should trade quarterback Jalen Milroe to the Green Bay Packers for a conditional 2027 fourth-round pick that could become a third-rounder, analysts say. With Sam Darnold locked in as QB1 and Drew Lock signed through 2026, Milroe lacks a starting path—and Seattle can still recover the draft capital it spent on him in 2025.
Lee Vowell of 12th Man Rising calls the package a no-brainer for a defending champion carrying three quarterbacks on its projected 53-man roster. Seattle likely needs only two backups in practice, and the surplus third could be flipped for picks as training camp nears at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
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Key Takeaways
- Jalen Milroe carries more trade value than fellow backup Drew Lock, according to 12th Man Rising.
- A conditional 2027 fourth-round pick from Green Bay could escalate to a third-rounder—the round Seattle used to draft Milroe in 2025.
- Sam Darnold, 29, could remain Seattle's starter well past Milroe's rookie contract, which ends after 2028.
- Green Bay's Malik Willis success under Matt LaFleur offers a template for how Milroe might develop with the Packers.
- Seattle's young roster—including veteran defensive tackle Jarran Reed—heads into camp as reigning Super Bowl champions.
Why is Jalen Milroe the most likely Seahawks quarterback to move?
The Seattle Seahawks projected roster has room for three quarterbacks, the same number they carried last season. Only two are truly necessary, and ideally just one starter handles most snaps.
Milroe was a 2025 third-round pick from Alabama, but analysts see no conceivable path to him beating Darnold for the starting job. Darnold could hold QB1 for many seasons, outlasting Milroe's affordable rookie deal.
Drew Lock, meanwhile, has bounced around the league without securing a long-term starting role anywhere. Few teams would offer meaningful compensation for him. Milroe is younger, more talented, and more coveted—though not at first- or second-round value.
Lock is signed through 2026. Even if he departs in free agency next year and Milroe moves up to QB2, Seattle may prefer re-signing Lock as a reliable backup and trading Milroe while interest remains.
Would the Green Bay Packers actually trade for Milroe?
Green Bay is a logical destination. Jordan Love is entrenched, but the Packers proved in 2025 that a talented young backup can thrive in their system.
Malik Willis played sparingly yet excelled, then signed a three-year deal worth up to $67.5 million with the Miami Dolphins in free agency. Packers head coach Matt LaFleur's offensive leadership was credited for that breakout.
Behind Love, Tyrod Taylor serves as backup—but he has not stuck with one team long-term and mirrors an older version of Lock. Green Bay's other quarterbacks may not survive final roster cuts, leaving room for a developmental arm like Milroe.
Vowell argues a conditional 2027 fourth-rounder is fair compensation. If Milroe is forced into starts and produces, the pick could climb to a third-rounder. He is not a bad quarterback—he simply cannot prove himself sitting third in Seattle.
How does Seattle's roster context shape this Super Bowl push?
Seattle enters 2026 as the defending Super Bowl champion with offseason workouts complete and training camp on the horizon. Field Gulls' June 28 Pre-Snap Reads roundup highlights the franchise's championship window, linking analysis on Sam Darnold, salary-cap planning, and whether the Seahawks can repeat as NFC West champions.
Yahoo Sports ranks 33-year-old defensive tackle Jarran Reed No. 23 on its top-25 Seahawks list heading into the season. Reed remains a critical veteran on Mike Macdonald's Dark Side Defense, capable of lining up at multiple interior and edge spots despite a quieter 2025 stat line of 31 tackles, 2.5 sacks, and eight quarterback hits in 13 games.
Trading Milroe would not address the defensive front, but it would open a roster spot and add future draft ammunition for a young core trying to maximize its title run. For Milroe, regular snaps in Green Bay could be the win-win both sides need.