QB Jalen Milroe is cheerful but diligent in first minicamp with Seahawks

For all the million-dollar smiles Jalen Milroe flashed following his first practice with the Seahawks, it's clear Seattle's third-round draft pick means business.

Milroe's diligent approach stems from his being raised by military parents. His father, Quentin, served in the Marine Corps while his mother, Lola, served in the Navy. Both were on hand for the opening of the Seahawks' rookie minicamp on Friday.

"Having two military parents, you definitely emphasize determination, grit, goals — short-term goals and long-term goals — and understanding that it takes a team," Milroe said. "I don’t believe in the word self-made at all. It takes a team to accomplish what you want to accomplish. So, my team was here today at practice."

So, too, was Milroe’s passing potential. He worked through the route tree and showed impressive touch on deep throws.

Milroe, who completed 64% of his passes at Alabama with 45 touchdowns and 20 interceptions, has spent the last year and a half working on his mechanics with former NFL quarterback Jordan Palmer in San Clemente, California. Palmer has also worked with Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen and even Seattle's new starter, Sam Darnold.

Milroe has gained a better understanding of the role his lower body plays in making strong, accurate throws.

"Every quarterback is different," Milroe said. "And so, doing a really deep understanding of how my body functions at the quarterback position for how I throw the ball. And so, understanding how to distribute my body when it comes to my lower-half mechanics and things like that. That’s been a focus for us. And so with that, it’s all about being an efficient passer."

Tight end Elijah Arroyo, a second-round pick, appreciated catching passes from Milroe.

"I can’t