Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield. (Scott Galvin-USA TODAY Sports)
The Seattle Seahawks passed on a trade for Baker Mayfield, who the Browns instead traded to the Panthers. What does this mean for their QB situation?
The Seahawks don’t have many options at quarterback, but the ones they do have, Pete Carroll sounds relatively comfortable with.
Drew Lock and Geno Smith are at the top of the Seattle depth chart. One of them — most likely — will start come Week 1. This, of course, does not bode well for the Hawks’ chances this season, as it’s a quarterback-driven league. DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett can only do so much with mediocre QB play.
“They’ve been really impressive,” Carroll said of Smith and Lock just a few weeks ago, per ESPN. “And it’s not been any one sequence here or one day here. They have just been solid throughout. We’ve shared a ton of reps. Geno has gone with the first group throughout, but they’ve had very close to equal reps in situational opportunities throughout. … They’ve done a terrific job so far. They look in control.”
Yet, before Carroll gives a decisive answer on the Seahawks QB competition, let’s take a look at all their options, from least to most likely.
Seahawks QB backup plan: Go fishing
The more notable available quarterbacks in free agency are Cam Newton and Mike Glennon. Neither, from what I can tell, would be much of an upgrade over Smith and Lock.
Newton is a shell of his former self. Glennon is better served in a backup role.
Seattle’s other choice would be to trade for a QB, such as Jimmy Garoppolo. However, given Jimmy G plays for the division rival, such a trade would be tough to come by.
Next up would be trying to convince a veteran to come out of retirement. Unless Drew Brees pulls a shocker, they’d be stuck with the likes of Ryan Fitzpatrick, who once again is not much of an upgrade.