PFF draft expert targets 1 QB prospect for Seahawks despite Geno deal

On Monday, the information broke that Geno Smith signed a three-year, $105 million extension to stay with the Seahawks. It’s a deal that added short-term readability to Seattle’s quarterback scenario and stored Smith from hitting the open market.

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However whereas Smith would be the group’s starter in 2023, his return doesn’t imply the Seahawks gained’t take one other quarterback with the No. 5 general choose within the 2023 NFL Draft. NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reported on Tuesday that regardless of the $35 million in common worth on the contract, it’s an incentive-laden deal that has a base worth of $25 million per yr with $40 million assured at signing. To say it’s “price as much as $105 million” can be way more applicable.

Pete Carroll confirmed on Tuesday that drafting a QB, doubtlessly even within the first spherical, stays totally on the desk.

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Final week’s NFL Scouting Mix added some readability on this yr’s prime passers and which have the upside of main an NFL franchise.

Professional Soccer Focus’ draft skilled Trevor Sikkema spoke to Seattle Sports activities this week and shared his ideas on this yr’s quarterback class. There are 4 names unanimously on prime of the QB rankings. For Sikkema, he’d rank them beginning with Alabama’s Bryce Younger, Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud, Florida’s Anthony Richardson after which Will Levis within the No. 4 spot.

The primary two will seemingly be gone by the point Seattle goes on the clock at No. 5, however Richardson or Levis might nonetheless be on the board.

“All 4 of those gamers are guys you’re taking large swings on within the prime 10 of an NFL Draft,” Sikkema stated.

That will be awfully tempting for Seahawks basic supervisor John Schneider, who has by no means gotten to take a quarterback within the prime 10. Past that, if Seattle’s 9-8 file in 2022 was the low level, then the Seahawks gained’t be choosing inside the highest 10 for the foreseeable future. Heck, they’re solely there now due to Denver’s disastrous season.

Richardson is particularly intriguing given his headline-grabbing week in Indianapolis. His athletic measurables had been off the charts with a 4.43-second 40-yard sprint and a 40.5-inch vertical bounce whereas standing 6-foot-4 and weighing 244 kilos. And whereas his 2022 tape is what’s protecting him behind Younger and Stroud within the rankings, Sikkema thinks there’s greater than sufficient sport movie to recommend high-level NFL success.

Richardson solely spent one season as a starter at completed with 2,549 passing yards, 17 touchdowns and 9 picks in 2022. He added 654 speeding yards and 9 scores on the bottom.

“Yeah, there are moments the place the tape seems to be tough, however there have been additionally plenty of enhancements: how he navigates the pocket, how he handled strain, the contact he was throwing with. All of that stuff is there in his tape, it simply isn’t as constant as you need it to be.”

However there may very well be a value to taking a QB that top because it pertains to the message it might ship Smith. And Sikkema, as a believer in Smith, doesn’t assume that might be Seattle’s finest path to take.

“For those who draft a kind of guys are No. 5, you’re principally saying that Geno’s time is now operating out earlier than he even begins on this new contract. You don’t draft a quarterback at No. 5 general and say, ‘Oh, perhaps we’ll simply by no means play him.’

“You take a look at what Geno was in a position to do final yr, and it shouldn’t be denied. It shouldn’t be ignored. As that group continues to rebuild, you now have a quarterback who will let you compete week in and week out.”

That’s why Sikkema has a unique QB prospect for the Seahawks to focus on on Day 2 that provides related upside as the highest 4.

“To me, I don’t consider in going cut price bin purchasing for a quarterback, however for Seattle particularly I’d be focusing on Hendon Hooker and determining the place you may get him.”

The previous Tennessee quarterback is an older prospect (25) and is coming off an ACL tear. However there’s no denying Hooker’s tantalizing arm expertise. He posted 3,135 passing yards and 27 touchdowns to only two interceptions in 11 video games final season previous to his harm. He additionally posted 5 speeding touchdowns and was a number one candidate for the Heisman Trophy as properly.

Sikkema stated that utilizing an early second-round choose on Hooker can be justified and added that he can’t see him lasting past Spherical 3. Seattle has a trio of Day 2 picks with Nos. 38 and 53 general within the second spherical and No. 84 general within the third spherical.

“If this man actually is that assured and might play that properly and command an offense, to me he’s anyone that you simply’d spend some form of a Day 2 choose on.”

Of word, Sikkema stated that the hole between Levis and Hooker is smaller than the hole between Hooker and whoever may find yourself being the sixth quarterback off the board. That’s how a lot respect he has for the previous Tennessee Vol.

“It’s not usually we get 5 quarterbacks that you may legitimately persuade your self are going to be good within the NFL,” Sikkema stated.

Hooker being able to take a seat behind Smith for a pair years whereas he will get wholesome and acquainted with the NFL sport can be invaluable for his growth. A call to forgo the “large 4” would additionally enable the Seahawks to amass a few of the elite defensive expertise on this draft.

Ideally, Will Anderson or Jalen Carter (pending authorized troubles) can be pushed right down to No. 5 with an early run on quarterbacks. Sikkema sees these two, in addition to Texas operating again Bijan Robinson, as the one three blue-chip prospects outdoors of the highest QBs.

The anticipation for draft day will proceed to develop over the subsequent month and a half. Seattle’s choices on Days 1 and a pair of will likely be paramount given the standard and amount of the picks at Schneider’s disposal. Who will he find yourself taking? Will he commerce down from No. 5? Will he take a quarterback?

The solutions to these questions will decide the Seahawks’ ceiling in 2023 and past.

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