Dee Milliner Career Overview and Key Statistics
Dee Milliner is a former NFL cornerback who played college football at the University of Alabama before being selected in the first round of the 2013 NFL Draft by the New York Jets. His draft position and early performance made him one of the most talked-about defensive backs entering the league. Dee Milliner stats from his college career show multiple seasons as a shutdown corner, including a role in Alabama's national championship runs. After entering the NFL, he appeared in regular-season games for the Jets and later had brief stints with other teams, with his production declining due to injuries and scheme fit. His career trajectory is often discussed in relation to high draft picks who struggled with durability and consistency. For a detailed breakdown of his draft and early career, see the ESPN player page for Dee Milliner.
Dee Milliner stats across his NFL career include 144 total tackles, 13 interceptions, and 32 passes defensed over 44 games in his first three seasons with the Jets. His 2013 rookie season was his most productive, as he recorded 5 interceptions and 16 passes defensed while starting 13 games. In 2014, he started 14 games and logged 58 tackles with 2 interceptions and 10 passes defensed. By 2015, his snap count and performance dropped after a hamstring injury limited his availability, and he appeared in only 5 games that year. Dee Milliner stats from his later career with the Arizona Cardinals and brief practice squad stints show a player who never fully regained his early form. His career interception rate and coverage grades from Pro Football Focus highlight both his elite ball skills and the limitations that kept him from becoming a long-term starter.
College Performance and Draft Profile
Dee Milliner stats at Alabama show him as one of the top cornerbacks in college football from 2010 to 2012. In his junior season, he recorded 44 tackles, 3 interceptions, and 15 passes defensed while allowing a low completion percentage against him. His performance in the 2012 BCS National Championship Game and other key matchups boosted his draft stock significantly. Dee Milliner stats in college also include multiple games where he held opposing receivers to zero catches, showcasing his ability to disrupt passing attacks. His combination of size, length, and ball-hawking instincts made him a natural fit for Cover 3 and man coverage schemes at the NFL level.
Dee Milliner was selected ninth overall in the 2013 NFL Draft by the New York Jets, making him the highest cornerback taken that year. His draft profile emphasized his press coverage ability, ball production, and physical traits, though some scouts raised concerns about his injury history and tackling consistency. Dee Milliner stats from his first NFL training camp and preseason suggested he could step into a starting role immediately, and he did so by earning a starting spot in Week 1 of the 2013 season. His early NFL performance validated the Jets' decision to draft him, but subsequent injuries and drops in production led to a gradual loss of playing time. For more on his draft and college highlights, visit the official Alabama Athletics page for Dee Milliner.
Injury History and Career Decline
Dee Milliner stats are often discussed alongside his injury history, which included hamstring, knee, and shoulder issues that limited his availability from 2014 onward. In 2015, he suffered a torn hamstring in training camp that caused him to miss the first half of the season, and he returned to play only 5 games that year. Dee Milliner stats from games he played in 2015 show a sharp decline in coverage grade and snap percentage compared to his earlier seasons. After being released by the Jets, he had short-lived contracts with the Arizona Cardinals and other teams,