Seattle Seahawks Rumors: Potential Quarterback Moves for 2024 Season
The Seattle Seahawks are amidst swirling rumors about potential quarterback changes as the team strives to salvage their season. Geno Smith is currently under contract with the Seahawks until 2025, but speculations are rife about the team’s possible involvement in the quarterback market. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler has labeled the Seahawks as a potential “surprise participant in the QB market” for the upcoming offseason. In a recent article, Fowler highlighted the Seahawks’ situation, stating that while Smith’s guaranteed money runs out after 2023, it doesn’t necessarily mean that the team wants to move on from him. Smith’s recent impressive performance and reasonable $31.2 million cap hit for the next season make him a viable starter for the Seahawks. Nonetheless, if the team decides to go young at the quarterback position, it could potentially put Smith’s future in question, especially considering the efforts made by the Seahawks in bolstering their roster for the post-Russell Wilson era over the past two years. This includes the possibility of drafting a high-caliber quarterback in the first round.
Seahawks Rumors: Geno Smith’s Deal Allows Seattle to Move on in 2024
As mentioned by Fowler, the Seahawks have the option to retain Smith for the 2024 season. However, the veteran’s contract includes an out clause for the team this offseason, enabling them to part ways with Smith. Financially, it would be preferable for Seattle to keep Smith to avoid a significant dead cap hit of $17.4 million by releasing him. Moreover, given the high demand for quarterbacks across the league, the Seahawks could also explore the possibility of trading Smith. According to ESPN’s Dan Graziano, Seattle actively evaluated the quarterback landscape during the previous offseason, indicating their preparedness to make significant moves in the forthcoming season.
NFL Draft 2024: The Top Quarterbacks Are Projected to Be Gone When the Seahawks Pick
The upcoming NFL draft presents an opportunity for the Seahawks to secure a new franchise quarterback. However, challenges are anticipated as the top quarterback prospects are earmarked to be drafted within the top 10 picks, making it potentially difficult for Seattle to find an impactful upgrade to their current situation. With the Seahawks currently holding the No. 13 pick in the draft, projections from The Athletic’s Dane Brugler suggest that key quarterback prospects such as USC’s Caleb Williams, North Carolina’s Drake Maye, and LSU’s Jayden Daniels are likely to be off the board early on, complicating Seattle’s quarterback search. While Smith’s performances have not been flawless this season, the team also faces several other roster challenges that need to be addressed.
Amidst these circumstances, the Seahawks have recently witnessed Drew Lock temporarily filling in for Smith. However, despite Lock’s commendable performance, the team still encountered several obstacles that led to an unsuccessful outcome. Earlier in the season, Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll expressed the criteria for considering a potential quarterback change, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive evaluation of all aspects impacting the team’s performance and the role of the quarterback in the team’s dynamics.
