The Seattle Seahawks are as soon as once more in search of a brand new beginning quarterback. In a stunning commerce, John Schneider and the Seahawks traded Geno Smith to the Las Vegas Raiders (and Pete Carroll) for a third-round choose. This commerce seemingly was prompted by the 2 sides being far aside on new contract negotiations.
After this commerce went down, many 12s had been left questioning what within the heck simply occurred? And within the aftermath of all of it, many questions stay, one of many greatest being, who begins at quarterback for the Seahawks in 2025. Sam Howell remains to be on the roster, however we received’t concentrate on him on this event. This text will run via 10 outdoors quarterback choices the Seahawks might be by way of free company or by way of commerce.
Free Brokers: Sam Darnold, Zach Wilson, Trey Lance, Drew Lock, Justin Fields, Daniel Jones
There are numerous extra free agent quarterbacks than those listed above. Nonetheless, Klink Kubiak’s offense makes use of movement and large zone schemes, which doubtless requires a extra cellular quarterback. With that being stated, the record above contains some extra cellular quarterbacks, all of that are nonetheless younger of their careers; Wilson – 25 years outdated, Lance – 24 years outdated, Fields – 26 years outdated, and Jones – 27 years outdated. Schneider simply noticed success with a quarterback who failed at their first cease within the NFL, that being Geno Smith with the Jets. Maybe Schneider believes he can strike gold twice and see the identical success with the likes of Wilson, Lance, Fields, or Jones.
Then there may be Sam Darnold and Drew Lock, two quarterbacks who usually are not identified for his or her mobility. Darnold is coming off of his finest season within the NFL with the Minnesota Vikings and remains to be solely 27 years outdated. Regardless of his tough finish to 2024, he’s broadly seen as the most effective free-agent quarterback choice in the marketplace. On high of that, the Seahawks are already reportedly focusing on Darnold.
One other enjoyable choice (are any of those choices actually any enjoyable..) is Drew Lock. Lock joined the Seahawks again in 2022 within the notorious Russell Wilson commerce with the Denver Broncos. Lock had success when he noticed the sector, together with the upset win over the Philadelphia Eagles. Lock doesn’t have the identical mobility as the opposite choices listed above, nonetheless that doesn’t imply that he can not transfer round and out of the pocket. Schneider has proven a liking to Lock earlier than, might he make a transfer for Lock once more to assist substitute a former franchise quarterback? Something is feasible.
Commerce Choices: Kirk Cousins, Joe Milton III, Will Levis, Derek Carr
Maybe the Seahawks plan at quarterback is just not on the free agent market in any respect, however somewhat on one other workforce. With Seattle offloading 34-year-old Geno Smith, it might not take advantage of sense for the Seahawks to go round and commerce for one more 30-something quarterback. Nonetheless, when there are two quarterbacks probably obtainable by way of commerce, each of whom performed for offensive coordinator Klink Kubiak, they should be choices.
These two choices are Kirk Cousins and Derek Carr. Cousins was Kubiak’s quarterback when Kubiak was the Vikings quarterbacks coach from 2019-2020, and later the Vikings offensive coordinator in 2021. Throughout that point, Cousins had a few of his finest statistical seasons as a quarterback, together with a career-high 107.7 quarterback score in 2019, and career-high 35 touchdowns in 2020. Due to that, Schneider might be tempted to pair Cousins again up with Kubiak. Nonetheless, Cousins didn’t appear to be the Cousins of 2019-2021 final season. That would have been because of his restoration from his 2023 Achilles tear, or maybe simply normal put on and tear that many different 36-year-old quarterbacks face. This slip in play, paired together with his age, and $40 million cap hit in 2025, make Cousins seem to be a much less doubtless choice, no less than by way of commerce. If Cousins had been to hit the open market, then the Seahawks can signal him for near nothing (just like the Pittsburgh Steelers did with Russell Wilson final yr). On this case, Cousins might simply be a favourite to switch Geno Smith in Seattle.
Derek Carr in the meantime was Kubiak’s quarterback final season when Kubiak was the New Orleans Saints offensive coordinator. The Saints offense was hovering final season earlier than everybody (together with Carr) bought harm. Nonetheless, much like Cousins, with Carr having a $51.4 million cap hit for 2025, until there’s a main restructure or straight up slicing of Carr, this selection additionally seems unlikely for Seattle to take.
Then there are the 2 younger commerce choices; Joe Milton III and Will Levis. Milton III was a 2024 sixth spherical select of Tennessee by the New England Patriots. He was broadly seen as a uncooked however bodily gifted passer, with a large rocket for an arm. Milton noticed many of the recreation motion within the season finale in opposition to the Buffalo Payments and impressed. Milton went 22 for 29 for 241 yards, and one landing. Milton additionally ran for 16 yards and one landing. May Schneider make a commerce for the younger, bodily gifted quarterback, regardless of just one main NFL recreation beneath his belt? Schneider did one thing very comparable again in 2012. That’s when Schneider signed Matt Flynn, after posting one very spectacular recreation for the Inexperienced Bay Packers within the prior yr’s season finale. Although a commerce could be completely different, the spectacular one begin within the prior yr’s season finale is sufficient to catch the attention.
Then there may be Mayonnaise loving, Will Levis. If the Tennessee Titans, who’ve the primary general choose, select to draft certainly one of Cam Ward or Shedeur Sanders, then that would depart the door open to commerce their different younger quarterback, Will Levis. Popping out of Kentucky, Levis was slotted as probably the greatest quarterback prospects within the 2023 draft. Regardless of this, he slid to the second spherical. Levis has had 21 begins over two seasons with the Titans. He confirmed sufficient promise after his rookie season for the Titans to resolve to roll with him as their starter final season. Nonetheless, final season didn’t go as deliberate for Levis and the Titans. The Titans received solely three video games, and Levis completed the yr with solely 2,091 yards, 13 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. Levis was additionally benched a number of occasions on the yr. Nonetheless, this could not be the primary time Schneider traded for a younger quarterback who began many video games and struggled in his first two years. Simply look again to final season when Schneider traded for Sam Howell from the Washington Commanders. Schneider might be intrigued by bringing in Levis for reasonable and having him compete with Howell for the beginning job.
All in all, the Geno Smith commerce to the Raiders was very stunning information for seemingly the complete NFL neighborhood. Within the aftermath, many questions stay, one of many greatest being, who begins at quarterback for the Seahawks in 2025. Above are many potential choices. Nonetheless, the starter might simply not be on this record, it might be Sam Howell himself, or perhaps a rookie that the Seahawks draft this yr.
