Finding a franchise quarterback is arguably the most important – and perhaps most difficult – task for any NFL general manager.

That’s why one former GM loves that the Seattle Seahawks essentially gave themselves two bites at the apple this offseason.

Which NFC West team has brightest future? An insider’s take

The Seahawks underwent a major shift at quarterback in March, when they traded away 34-year-old veteran Geno Smith and then replaced him by signing 27-year-old Sam Darnold to a team-friendly three-year, $100.5 million deal.

But they didn’t stop there. Seahawks GM John Schneider also spent a third-round pick on Alabama dual-threat QB Jalen Milroe in April’s NFL Draft, giving the team a longer-term developmental option at the position.

Former Las Vegas Raiders GM Mike Mayock praised Schneider’s approach last week during an appearance on Seattle Sports’ Brock and Salk.

“Philosophically, I love what they did, because very few NFL teams are intentional about the quarterback position, in my opinion, the way they should be,” said Mayock, who also spent 15 years as a draft analyst for NFL Network.

“So basically, it’s two moves. They go out and they trade Geno at age 34 (and then sign) a 27-year-old Sam Darnold. They pay Sam a reasonable starting salary that they can effectively get out of after two years for plus or minus $65 million and a reasonable dead cap hit. And then they draft a developmental quarterback behind him. So there’s a plan A and a plan B here.”

In signing Darnold, the Seahawks are hoping the former first-round pick can build on his breakout 2024 campaign with the Minnesota Vikings, which revived his once-disappointing career. But at the same time, as Mayock mentioned, the Seahawks structured Darnold’s contract in a way that allows them to move on after one or two years if he doesn’t pan out.

And in Milroe, the Seahawks took a shot at a rare athletic talent. Milroe still needs a plenty of polishing as a passer, but with big-time speed packed into a powerful 6-foot-2, 217-pound frame, he has a tantalizing skill set as a runner.

“I love the fact that, you know, let’s root for Sam Darnold to be who he was last year and continue to get better, but let’s also develop this young kid who had the best physical traits of any quarterback in this draft,” Mayock said. “And does (Milroe) need 10,000 reps and time on task? Absolutely. But (in the meantime), Darnold is there and can play at a highly competent level.

“I just think that John doubled down on it – not unlike signing Matt Flynn years ago and drafting Russell Wilson in the third round. I’m just a big fan of what John did there.”

Listen to the full conversation with Mike Mayock at this link or in the audio player near the top of this story. Tune in to Brock and Salk weekdays from 6 to 10 a.m. or find the podcast on the Seattle Sports app.

More on the Seattle Seahawks

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• Brock and Salk disagree on Seattle Seahawks rookie QB Jalen Milroe
• Ranking the five toughest games on Seattle Seahawks’ schedule

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For the fourth time already this season, Casey Lawrence is back with the Seattle Mariners.

May surge: Five top Mariners prospects are red-hot at the plate

The team recalled the veteran right-handed pitcher from the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers on Tuesday afternoon ahead of the second game of a three-game series in Chicago against the White Sox. Lawrence, 37, has made headlines this season because he’s been designated for assignment four times – thrice by the Mariners, and once by Toronto.

Lawrence is expected to pitch the bulk of Tuesday’s game against the White Sox after reliever Casey Legumina starts as an opener, per Seattle Sports’ Shannon Drayer. The Mariners signed Lawrence back on May 7, five days after he was granted free agency by the Blue Bays.

The Mariners optioned left-handed pitcher Jhonathan Díaz to Tacoma to make room for Lawrence on the active roster. Seattle also designated corner infielder Austin Shenton for assignment to make room on the 40-man roster.

Shenton, a native of Washington state and Bellingham High School alum, was originally drafted by the Mariners in the fifth round of the 2019 MLB Draft and made his MLB debut with Tampa Bay last year. The 27 year old returned to the Mariners organization over the offseason in a trade from Tampa Bay for cash after the Rays designated him for assignment.

Díaz, 28, was recalled from Triple-A by the Mariners on May 14 but did not pitch in a game. He has appeared in one game for Seattle this season and seven with the Rainiers.

Lawrence has pitched in four games with Seattle and once with the Blue Jays this season, allowing seven earned runs over 12 2/3 innings for a 4.97 ERA. He also has a 4.91 ERA over four appearances (14 2/3 innings) with Tacoma.

Lawrence originally played with the Mariners in 2017. He is set to become the sixth player in team history to have three separate tenures with Seattle, joining Mike Blowers, Raúl Ibañez, Norm Charlton, Roenis Elías and Jeff Nelson.

Game 2 of the Mariners’ series against the White Sox is set for a 4:40 p.m. Tuesday first pitch. Radio coverage on Seattle Sports will begin at 3:30 with the pregame show. However, it’s been a rainy day in Chicago, so there’s a good chance the game is postponed.

Also right now in Chicago… pic.twitter.com/V7vZRog6Bh

— Shannon Drayer (@shannondrayer) May 20, 2025

More on the Seattle Mariners

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• Drayer: How top M’s pitching prospects Cijntje, Sloan are opening eyes
• Brock & Salk: Seattle Mariners leading AL West no longer feels surprising

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CHICAGO – The Seattle Mariners won their fourth consecutive game on Monday night, beating the Chicago White Sox 5-1 at Rate Field. Seattle is now 27-19 and remains in first place in the American League West. Chicago fell to 14-34, the worst record in the American League.

The M’s have won all four games to start this 10-game road trip through San Diego, Chicago and Houston.

Luis Castillo earned the win on the mound after tossing seven scoreless innings. He allowed just three hits and no walks while striking out five. He’s now 4-3 with a 3.20 ERA.

Offensively, Jorge Polanco had an RBI single in the top of the third and Julio Rodriguez broke the game open in the top of the eighth with a grand slam. It was the second grand slam of his career and his eighth homer of the year.

After the game, Mariners on SI caught up with skipper Dan Wilson and Rodriguez to talk about the win.

Dan Wilson on Castillo’s performance:

​You ​know, ​great ​ballgame ​tonight. ​​I ​think ​when ​you ​look ​at ​the ​outing ​that ​Castillo ​turned ​in, ​you ​know, ​giving ​us ​seven ​full ​innings ​there, ​​really, ​really ​​just ​attacked ​the ​zone. ​I ​thought ​his ​two-​seamer ​was ​really ​good ​tonight. ​When ​you ​look ​at ​an ​outing ​like ​this, ​you ​know, ​he ​had ​everything ​going and attacked ​the ​zone, ​got ​ahead ​early, ​controlled the ​count ​on ​most ​of ​the ​hitters. ​And ​I ​thought that’s ​exactly ​what ​we ​needed ​from ​him. ​Great ​to ​get ​that ​from ​Luis.

On Jorge Polanco’s health, as he was pulled for a pinch-hitter against a left-handed pitcher again in the eighth inning:

He’s ​doing ​fine. ​You know, he’s ​coming ​along ​and ​right-handed ​swings ​are ​not ​too ​far ​behind, ​but ​we’re ​just ​taking ​it ​slow. ​And ​you ​know, ​his ​RBI ​single ​early ​was ​a ​big ​lift ​for ​us, ​I ​think. ​Getting ​on ​the ​board, ​getting ​us ​ahead, ​giving ​Luis (Castillo) ​a ​little ​bit ​of ​breathing ​room ​there ​on ​the ​mound ​was ​helpful. ​That ​was ​a ​big ​hit ​for ​us ​early ​in ​the ​game.

Julio Rodriguez on the team’s ability to add on late for a third straight game:

I ​mean, ​it’s ​huge, ​you ​know, ​especially, ​we’re ​on ​the ​road ​right ​now. ​Anything ​could ​happen ​later ​on and ​I ​feel ​like ​any ​run ​that ​we ​can add ​is ​big but, ​you ​know ​staying in​ the ​game…obviously it ​​was ​a ​little ​slow ​at ​the ​beginning, ​but, ​you ​know, ​we ​kept ​having ​good ​at-bats, ​kept ​putting ​the ​ball ​in ​play, ​and ​we were ​able ​to ​make ​something ​happen ​later.

The Mariners will play the White Sox again on Tuesday at 4:40 p.m. PT, but there is rain in the forecast.

NEW PODCAST IS OUT! Brady is back for another episode of “Refuse to Lose,” talking about the M’s recent struggles and why he’s still not worried yet. Then, he talks about the problems with the starting rotation and how its hurting the rest of the operation. Finally, we are joined by former Mariners coach and three-time World Series champion Scott Brosius, who talks about his career and his time in Seattle. And Brady has a message for “fans” in the wake of what happened to Astros’ pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. CLICK HERE:

BRASH BACK? Matt Brash, working back from Tommy John surgery, is looking closer and closer to his old self, as evidenced by what he did against Aaron Judge this week. CLICK HERE:

STILL A PERFECT ZERO: After a scoring change from Tuesday night, Andres Munoz still has a perfect 0.00 ERA for the season. Here’s what happened. CLICK HERE:

Continue to follow our Inside the Mariners coverage on social media by liking us on Facebook and by following Teren Kowatsch and Brady Farkas on “X” @Teren_Kowatsch and @RefuseToLosePod. You can subscribe to the “Refuse to Lose” podcast by clicking HERE.