With the NFL Draft coming up, Seahawks.com is taking a position-by-position look at where things currently stand on the Seahawks' roster, as well as the top prospects at each position. We'll also look at Seattle's draft history at each position under general manager John Schneider and head coach Pete Carroll.
The Seahawks currently hold four picks in the 2019 draft, which begins Thursday in Nashville, Tennessee.
Seattle's 2019 Draft Picks: Round 1, No. 21 overall; Round 3, No. 84 overall; Round 4, No. 124 overall; Round 5, No. 159 overall.
So far we've covered offensive line, defensive line, tight end, linebacker, receiver, cornerback, running back and safety, and today we wrap things up with a look at where things stand at quarterback.
Draft History Under Schneider and Carroll: Russell Wilson (No. 75 overall, 2012), Alex McGough (No. 220, 2018).
Where The Seahawks Stand
The Seahawks have in Russell Wilson one of the league's best quarterbacks, and they just locked him up through the 2023 season with a new contract extension, so it's safe to say that quarterback isn't exactly the highest priority for Seattle heading into the draft.
That being said, Seattle currently has just one other quarterback on the roster—former first-round pick Paxton Lynch, who was signed earlier this offseason—so there is still a chance they could add to that position, albeit that would likely occur late in the draft.
While selecting quarterbacks has been rare for Seattle under Carroll and Schneider—Alex McGough, a seventh-rounder in last year's draft, is the only quarterback the Seahawks have picked since Wilson—Schneider has said multiple times over the years that he likes the idea of picking quarterbacks even when a team has an established starter in place. Schneider spent a long time working in Green Bay's front office when the Packers regularly drafted quarterbacks during Brett Favre's prime, and eventually traded those players for more picks, so while the Seahawks haven't drafted many quarterbacks over the years, there's always a chance they will look to add competition for the backup job.
Picking a quarterback would seem unlikely with just four picks heading into the draft, but if the Seahawks were to trade back at some point to add picks—a very real possibility—then drafting a Day 3 quarterback to compete with Lynch becomes a more realistic option. If the Seahawks don't draft a quarterback, there's a good chance they try to find one to sign as an undrafted free agent, as they'll need at least one more on the roster to get through training camp and the preseason.
NFL.com's Top 5 Quarterbacks
1. Kyler Murray, Oklahoma
Overview (via NFL.com): Severely undersized, one-year starter with rare playmaking talent that could force general managers to reassess long-held notions about size and style for a franchise quarterback. Murray is like a complex burgundy with notes of Baker Mayfield, Johnny Manziel and Russell Wilson in his play, but like any quarterback, he'll need to prove he can recognize disguised coverages and work on-time from the pocket to go from flash talent to playoff winner. Teams drafting him need to have the right coordinator and must be committed to framing their offense specifically to Murray's strengths and weaknesses, which could require additional roster re-configuration. Murray is an electric talent with a live arm, good mental makeup and the skill-set to produce at a high level in the right offense.
2. Dwayne Haskins, Ohio State
Overview (via NFL.com): Big and talented with explosive arm talent but limited mobility Haskins is a chance-taker with the arm strength to get away with some tight window throws that most in this class can't make. Haskins is still very early in his journey and is prone to misreading coverage and stalling in getting through his progressions. While this is normal for an inexperienced quarterback, Haskins is going to be forced to learn on the fly against NFL speed and defensive coordinators conspiring to defeat him. His athletic limitations could keep him pocket-bound, but he has the arm talent, confidence and pocket savvy to become a good NFL starter if he's protected and given the time to develop early on.
3. Drew Lock, Missouri
Overview (via NFL.com): Full-field reader offering prototypical size and arm talent, but one that has a concerning lack of accuracy and consistency against top opponents. Inside of each game, Lock makes reads and throws that are worthy of an early pick. There will also be plays in the same game that highlight his random inaccuracy and issues defeating pocket pressure. He has as much pure talent as any quarterback from the 2018 draft, but he won't reach that lofty potential unless he improves his accuracy and learns to play with better in-game presence.
4. Daniel Jones, Duke
Overview (via NFL.com): Three-year starter who operates with a rare level of quality mechanics coming from the college game. Jones doesn't have special arm talent, but he can make pro throws and has the ability to attack deep with accuracy. He completed just 59.9 percent of his career passes, but his receivers -- who dropped 38 passes this year alone -- really struggled to get open at times. Jones has good football IQ and is relatively mobile, but he appears to be more of a game manager than "franchise" talent. He's more of a Day 2 draft pick than Day 1.
5. Ryan Finley, North Carolina State
Overview (via NFL.com): While Finley's accuracy, production and mode of operation has been static over the last three years, his ability to improve in all areas has been impressive. He works well in a controlled environment, reads alignments and knows where the ball should go, but he failed to elevate his production against the best in-game competition and then again at the Senior Bowl. His intelligence and accuracy could find him work as a quality backup with the potential to find some future starts.
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