Seattle Seahawks Show Commitment To Geno Smith By Passing On Quarterbacks In 2023 NFL Draft

For the entire discuss of the Seattle Seahawks’ curiosity within the prime 4 quarterbacks of the 2023 NFL Draft, they certain fooled everybody.

As a substitute, they’re sticking with Geno Smith because the clear franchise quarterback transferring ahead.

As Seattle entered the draft with the No. 5 and No. 20 general picks within the draft, their curiosity in quarterback prospects Bryce Younger, C.J. Stroud, Anthony Richardson and Will Levis have been made very public.

In reality, head coach Pete Carroll and normal supervisor John Schneider have been seen taking selfies with Stroud, Younger and Levis at their professional days main as much as the draft.

With the No. 5 decide, the Seahawks appeared to be in good place to pick out both Richardson or Levis, who have been anticipated to be drafted after Younger and Stroud. Whereas that didn’t fairly precisely occur with Richardson being scooped up by the Indianapolis Colts on the No . 4 choice, the Seahawks did have a possibility to draft Levis with their No. 5 and their No. 20 picks.

They handed each instances.

As a substitute, Seattle opted to beef up its secondary by stunning everybody with the number of Illinois cornerback Devon Witherspoon on the No. 5 decide. After which with one other alternative to choose Levis — who was extensively thought of to be a prime 10 decide heading into the draft — they handed on him at No. 20 to present Smith a bonafide third receiving possibility in huge receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba out of Ohio State.

Not solely did the Seahawks move on the chance at deciding on one of many prime quarterback prospects — in addition they had a number of possibilities at drafting Hendon Hooker, the fifth-best quarterback prospect within the draft — within the 2023 NFL Draft, they handed on deciding on a quarterback altogether.

Of Seattle’s 10 whole draft choices, they didn’t decide a single quarterback. In reality, they opted for 3 offensive ability place gamers and 5 defenders, clearly seeking to beef up Smith’s supporting solid together with a defensive unit that ranked twenty fifth final season.

As a substitute, their lone quarterback addition within the speedy aftermath of the draft was the signing of former East Carolina quarterback Holton Ahlers as an undrafted free agent.

Contemplating the Seahawks carried solely two quarterbacks on its roster final season, Ahlers tasks as a follow squad developmental quarterback greater than the rest. Drew Lock is returning to the Seahawks because the backup to Smith for the second straight season after inking a one-year, $4 million contract.

By doing so, they despatched a vote of confidence Smith’s means simply weeks after signing him to a three-year, $75 million deal.

The Seahawks’ normal supervisor, Schneider, defined why Seattle didn’t take a single quarterback within the 2023 NFL Draft.

By way of Gregg Bell of The Information Tribune:

“There’s three quarterbacks that went proper forward of us,”Schneider mentioned Saturday after Seattle handed on drafting a quarterback. “And you’ll’t simply push it due to like a story. “It has to really feel proper for everyone, the entire crew, the locker room, coaches.”

Whereas the Seahawks may have very properly drafted Richardson — the quarterback prospect they have been most linked to — had he dropped to No. 5, there’s no assure they might have given how they approached the quarterback place all through the draft.

Seahawks brass marveled over Richardson’s professional day, with Schneider saying he has a “ton of bodily expertise,” throughout his weekly radio present look on Seattle Sports activities.

By way of Michael-Shawn Dugar of The Athletic:

“Actually spectacular,” Schneider mentioned of Richardson’s exercise. “He has a ton of bodily expertise, there’s no query about it.”

As a substitute, the Seahawks are giving a transparent thumbs-up to Smith as they enter the 2023 season with the veteran quarterback because the unquestioned starter for the current and within the close to future.

Smith’s take care of Seattle raised query marks regarding his long-term future with the franchise. The development of the deal provides the Seahawks the pliability to maneuver on from Smith after a yr or two. It doesn’t assist that Smith — via 10 seasons within the NFL — has had one productive season as a starter. In reality, previous to the 2022 season, he hadn’t served as a full-time starter for the reason that 2014 season.

If Seattle decides to maneuver on from Smith after this season, they’ll take in a useless cap hit of $17.4 million. In the event that they select to maneuver on after the 2024 season, the useless cap hit can be simply $8.7 million.

Whereas the development of the contract provides the Seahawks flexibility in transferring on from the veteran passer, their choice to move on including a possible franchise quarterback makes it arduous to examine Seattle unloading Smith after this season.

As he enters coaching camp because the unquestioned starter for the primary time with the Seahawks, Smith gained’t must look over his shoulder.

Contemplating the quarterback prospects that have been out there on this yr’s draft, that must be a large reduction for Smith transferring ahead.