The Seahawks did solid work in free agency this year, remodeling their defensive line and linebacker corps and addressing their hole at center. They also brought back both of the quarterbacks they carried on their roster last season. As the dust settles and we begin to look forward to the 2023 NFL draft, it’s a good time to see where Seattle ranks compared to the competition.
If you ask ESPN, this is still a fringe playoff team. They have the Seahawks slotted at No. 12 in their post-free agency power rankings. Brady Henderson says their best under-the-radar move was re-signing backup QB Drew Lock.
“The Seahawks re-signed starting quarterback Geno Smith before free agency and then kept their QB room intact by bringing Lock back after he tested the market. Lock’s deal is for one year and $4 million, with another $3.5 million available in incentives. Although Lock didn’t beat out Smith last offseason the way many in the organization expected, the Seahawks remain high on him, believing he’s young and talented enough to develop into a high-end starter. He gives the Seahawks a backup with experience and upside, but his return doesn’t necessarily preclude them from picking a quarterback early in the upcoming draft.”
As far as backups go Lock is a strong option and Smith is currently a top-10 starter. The question now is if the Seahawks feel strongly enough about one of the quarterbacks in this draft class to pick them. The latest buzz indicates that is the case – speculation coming out of the owner’s meetings is that they’re looking to trade up to No. 3 overall.