It didn’t take lengthy for the Seattle Seahawks have discovered their Geno Smith alternative at quarterback.
On the primary day of the “authorized tampering” interval earlier than the precise begin of free company, the Seahawks agreed to a three-year contract north of $100 million for Sam Darnold, who’s coming off an sudden 14-win season in his lone season as Minnesota Vikings starter. It’s a Geno Smith-esque turnaround after being a bust with the New York Jets and Carolina Panthers earlier than serving as a backup with the San Francisco 49ers.
A contract of that magnitude strongly signifies that no matter whether or not or not the Seahawks take a quarterback in subsequent month’s NFL Draft, Darnold would be the begin in Week 1. If that materializes as anticipated, it’ll finish a prolonged and weird drought for the Seahawks in comparison with the remainder of the NFL.
It’s been 20 years because the final time the Seahawks began a first-round decide at quarterback
Sure, it’s true. The Seahawks not solely haven’t had a first-round quarterback begin any video games for them in a very long time. It’s important to go approach again in time. Like, pre-iPhone period. We’re speaking December 26, 2004 at what was then often known as Qwest Subject. We’ll get to that trivia reply just a little later.
Seattle has been the one staff within the NFL to not begin a first-round decide at quarterback over the previous 20 seasons; this can be a longer hole than when the New England Patriots had Tom Brady. Matt Hasselbeck, Seneca Wallace, Charlie Frye, Charlie Whitehurst, Tarvaris Jackson, Russell Wilson, Geno Smith, and Drew Lock have been all taken no sooner than the second spherical by their authentic drafting groups.
Moreover, the Seahawks haven’t a lot as performed a former first-rounder at quarterback on a daily season staff throughout that span. J.P. Losman was rostered in 2010 however he by no means performed a snap. Solely the Las Vegas Raiders haven’t began a first-rounder a minimum of as soon as within the 2020s.
Who was the final former first-round decide to start out at quarterback for the Seahawks?
Trent Dilfer, No. 6 general decide within the 1994 draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, deputized for an injured Matt Hasselbeck when the Seahawks hosted the Arizona Cardinals with playoff implications at stake for Seattle.
Dilfer was simply 10/26 for 128 yards and an interception, however Shaun Alexander rushed for over 150 yards and three touchdowns because the Seahawks held on for a 24-21 win over the Cardinals on their method to their first of 4 consecutive NFC West titles. The sport-sealing play got here on a Dilfer scramble on third and seven, which gave Seattle a primary down and arrange a sequence of victory formation kneel-downs.
This was Dilfer’s remaining look in a Seahawks uniform earlier than leaving for the Cleveland Browns.
When is the final time the Seahawks began one in every of their very own first-round picks at quarterback?
Barring using a first-round decide on this 12 months’s draft, it’ll quickly be 30 years because the Seahawks’ final sport during which one in every of their first-round quarterbacks was within the beginning lineup.
On a Sunday evening showdown in Jacksonville, which was coincidentally additionally in Week 16, the Seahawks misplaced 20-13 to the Jaguars as Rick Mirer accomplished simply 16/31 for 156 yards, 1 landing, and 1 interception. Mirer was shipped to the Chicago Bears in 1997 for a draft decide that was later utilized in a separate deal to land cornerback Shawn Springs.
The one Seahawks first-round draft picks at quarterback stay Mirer and Dan McGwire. Sufficient mentioned about these two.
What number of first-round quarterbacks have performed for the Seahawks?
Solely 5. Dilfer, Mirer, McGwire, Kelly Stouffer, and Invoice Munson (who by no means began however did play on the 1976 Seahawks). Clearly Dilfer, Munson, and Stouffer have been first-rounders from different groups. The widespread theme was that not a single one in every of these starters took the Seahawks to the playoffs.
Stathead says the Seahawks are tied with the Jacksonville Jaguars (an growth franchise from the Nineties, thoughts you!) for fewest first-round quarterbacks who’ve performed in a sport because the NFL-AFL merger in 1970.
Assuming Darnold is beginning at actually any level in his Seahawks tenure, he’ll be solely the Seahawks’ fifth first-round beginning quarterback in franchise historical past. If he’s the Week 1 starter, he’ll be the primary since Rick Mirer’s remaining season in 1996. Will he be the primary to guide Seattle to postseason play? Effectively you’re not getting that reply for awhile.
