The 49ers would love nothing more than an early run on quarterbacks in the 2025 NFL Draft, and Jalen Milroe could help.
Quarterbacks almost always get overdrafted.
The San Francisco 49ers know this after aggressively trading up for (and failing to capitalize on) Trey Lance back in the 2021 NFL Draft when he was selected No. 3 overall. And there are plenty of other examples of signal-callers who hear their names called on draft day far earlier than when most pundits expected.
The Niners don't need a quarterback in the 2025 draft, provided an extension finally gets solved with Brock Purdy.
But, San Francisco would be more than happy if there's yet another early run on quarterbacks, especially if that run takes place before its first pick at No. 11 overall.
Miami's Cam Ward and Colorado's Shedeur Sanders are the consensus Round 1-caliber hurlers in this year's class, while Ole Miss' Jaxson Dart is on the fringes of the first and second round. But, considering the value of the position (often above the player), Dart likely winds up being selected much sooner than the late 20s or early 30s.
There's another name to watch in the mix, though: Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe.
Jalen Milroe is rising up NFL Draft big boards
Milroe isn't of a first-round pedigree. CBS Sports tabs him as the No. 94 overall prospect, which means he'd be a likely late third-round target, assuming all positions are valued the same.
They aren't, though, meaning the chances of Milroe going much earlier than the 94th pick aren't just likely but rather all but guaranteed.
Not surprisingly, Fox Sports NFL insider Jordan Schultz already reported on the growing buzz surrounding Milroe in the days counting down to the draft:
Granted, this could have been force-fed fluff from Milroe's agent, which is common this time of year.
But, it's just as possible teams are exploring the 6-foot-2 quarterback as a legitimate option, potentially as a first-round target.
How 49ers benefit from Jalen Milroe's rise
The Tennessee Titans, Cleveland Browns, New York Giants, New York Jets and New Orleans Saints all could be looking at quarterbacks early. While the need for a quarterback varies greatly by franchise, each of those teams drafting ahead of the 49ers could prompt a run at the position.
It's possible Milroe winds up being a top-10 pick, which would still be a shock but not one the Niners would complain about.
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Especially if it pushes yet another blue-chip non-quarterbacking prospect further down the draft board toward the 11th overall selection.
Even if Milroe doesn't rise into the top 10 (teams don't like reaching too far anyway, right), there are several other squads drafting behind San Francisco that'd potentially be interested in trading up to ensure the Alabama prospect doesn't get picked up by another franchise.
Perhaps the Pittsburgh Steelers could be inclined to trade up with the 49ers from No. 21 overall, giving the Niners a bevvy of much-needed draft capital in the process.
This whole scenario could then again pan out in Round 2, too, where San Francisco holds the No. 43 overall pick. If Milroe isn't selected by that point, perhaps a trade-up materializes with the 49ers once more, even if the net return wouldn't be as spicy and lucrative as it would have been in the first round.
Either way, the Niners wouldn't complain if Milroe suddenly becomes a hot name to watch when the draft kicks off on April 24.