Seahawks Draft Blog

Defensively, I got what I wanted

For years I’ve pined for the Seahawks to shift resources from safety and linebacker to the trenches and that’s clearly how the current team has been built.

On top of the high first round pick used on Byron Murphy, the massive investment in Leonard Williams was a statement of intent. At a time when the 49ers (Arik Armstead) and Rams (Aaron Donald) said goodbye to dynamic, long-term fixtures on their D-line, the Seahawks have doubled down on the position.

Add in the Uchenna Nwosu signing, the second round picks used on Boye Mafe, Derick Hall and Darrell Taylor, plus the re-signing of Jarran Reed and addition of Johnathan Hankins, not to mention some lower level draft investment for depth, and this looks like a D-line rich in talent and numbers.

It was encouraging to read Curtis Allen’s day-one report from training camp.

At the same time, the Seahawks didn’t splurge at linebacker — adding two players at a good age with potential to develop into productive starters. They did give Julian Love a contract extension this week but it didn’t reset the safety market. They added cost-effective players at that position and role-players.

Finally at cornerback, the Seahawks have ample talent and depth including a chess-piece top-five pick who could end up being Seattle’s answer to Kyle Hamilton. Devon Witherspoon is a different player stylistically and in terms of size — but he’s multiple in the way he can be used. They’ve drafted young talent to develop and for the most part it’s a plan that has worked for them.

With major changes to the coaching staff and a brand new scheme, this promises to be the most interesting Seahawks season in years defensively. Things are nicely set-up for Mike Macdonald’s unit to take a big jump. Admittedly, that won’t be difficult given just how bad the defense has been in recent seasons. There is cause for optimism, though, about the state of this unit.

Now let’s see the same care taken on the offensive line

You can’t fix every problem in one off-season. At least not in a year where, for the first time since 2021, the Seahawks didn’t have a treasure trove of draft picks. Their cap situation also meant they had to be selective — and they went with bringing back Williams over a big-spend on the O-line. I think that was understandable.

However, there’s no denying Seattle’s offensive front is littered with question marks. Charles Cross is facing a big year, where he has to take the next step after two so-so seasons as a previous top-10 pick. They’ll hope experience helps with Laken Tomlinson but he’s 32 now and hasn’t been anything more than average for a while. This is yet another year with another new starter at center. The right guard position is in flux with Anthony Bradford competing with rookie Christian Haynes. Then there’s right tackle — where presumably George Fant has the inside track given Abe Lucas appears some way off returning to a football field.

There’s no successful draft pick here who has developed into a top-end starter, with a guaranteed second contract on the horizon. There’s no investment on a proven veteran. It’s just a bunch of question marks. That doesn’t mean the questions won’t be answered this year — especially with new offensive leadership — but the point is, currently, we can’t feel that confident about any individual.

Neither is there any consistency. The Seahawks have got into a habit of changing their starters annually. Any O-line group requires understanding and chemistry.

Given he reportedly passed his physical, I’m in favour of taking a chance on Connor Williams. He’s stacked multiple seasons of consistent play. He’s only just turned 27. Yes, he’s coming off an injury that some feared could be career threatening. However, this feels like a bit of a shot to nothing if you’re taking a short-term, low-risk gamble to see if he can regain his best form. The upside could be a relationship is built, he thrives and you make him a long-term staple of the line. That’d be a big bonus.

Hopefully Cross takes a step forward under Scott Huff. Hopefully Haynes justifies the third rounder spent on him. Then, at least, you’d start to see a line coming together.

It still feels like a unit that requires more. Next off-season, either a big investment on a proven veteran or another high-ish draft pick is necessary. Perhaps both? They’ve pumped resource into the D-line and the O-line needs to be next on the agenda in 2025.

My fear for the Seahawks fandom this year

I can already see it happening. Those who are passionately defensive of Geno Smith are getting quite agitated and uppity about how people describe their man. Yes, there are probably those who are over the top in their negativity of Smith. I don’t think they are a serious bunch though — a handful of people on social media worth ignoring.

However, this group is often portrayed as some kind of rampaging horde. Only this week a commenter said there is an ‘anti-Geno cult’ among the fanbase during our live stream. Let’s be honest, that’s bollocks.

Without wanting to speak for the majority of the fan base, I think most people have a similar thought as I do. Smith is clearly the man for this year, given his only competition is Sam Howell. When the Seahawks traded for Howell, John Schneider announced he was coming in to be the backup. There’s never been any hint of a competition here and the reports from training camp so far highlight this even further.

At the same time, it’s fair to be unconvinced that Smith is a long-term solution. I think most fans probably believe that the Seahawks are going to need to find a ‘main man’ at some point, probably through the draft. Until that happens, expectations for a Super Bowl run will be tempered somewhat.

Statistical arguments can be made in support of Smith receiving a far more upbeat review. Yet there are also counter stats. I think that speaks to who Smith is. I wrote an article in June about Smith’s up-and-down play in his three most significant seasons. I think we’ll see more of the same this year. There will be games and possibly even runs of form where Smith plays at a high level. I also expect there will be games and runs where he struggles. That is what his career has shown us.

I also appreciate it’s going to be very difficult finding a younger replacement. In my 3000 word preview of the 2025 quarterback class published three weeks ago, I conclude that it’s hard to identify a solution in the next draft prior to the start of the new college season.

I think it’s undeniable that the Seahawks are going year-to-year at the position and have been since the Russell Wilson trade. Perhaps Smith will suitably impress to warrant a longer-term consideration via an extension? Even in his last contract signed a year ago, though, there were clear out’s for the Seahawks in 2024 and 2025.

Without wanting to go over old ground too much, it also felt obvious that they weren’t completely sold on Smith prior to the combine. The Adam Schefter ‘trade value’ report was indicative, as was the non-committal language used by Schneider, Macdonald and Grubb until Drew Lock moved on, the rookie class began to shoot up boards and it became clear Smith was the best option for Seattle this season.

Things can change, of course. Maybe Smith has impressed the new staff so much that the dynamic is different now? However, until any games have been played or any performances registered, I’m going to assume that the Seahawks are mindful of the need to find a long-term answer sooner rather than later. In the meantime, they’ll look for the best ‘in the moment’ solution — whether that’s Smith, Lock, Sam Howell or some other veteran.

Let me be clear though — there’s no doubt that Smith is that man for 2024. I’ve always said he’s an ideal bridge quarterback. He can be Seattle’s answer to Alex Smith, while they seek their answer to Patrick Mahomes. That doesn’t have to be just a 2024 solution either. It could be 2025 or even 2026. The worst thing the Seahawks can do is force a draft pick, force a change at quarterback and get things badly wrong.

They do need to be looking for the next guy though — and certainly will be. I don’t think this is an unfair or negative or unreasonable assessment. Geno, like Alex, is the Smith for the here and now. I think anything more than that — such as suggesting he’s a proven franchise quarterback in his own right and an obvious starter for years to come — is fanciful. He’s not a bad player. I don’t think he’s a great player either. In the modern NFL, you typically require great at quarterback to be a serious Super Bowl threat — or you require an unrealistically loaded roster like the 49ers, managed by an offensive genius at Head Coach.

My fear is this will be the topic that divides fans. This is a fan base that absolutely loves to split off in different directions, pick teams and then go to battle on the internet. Accusations of agenda’s, ‘confirming priors’, passive aggressive insults and more are par for the course. Nothing makes me want to cook my head in the microwave more than an argument as to whether Geno Smith is a top-10 quarterback in the NFL. Mainly because it’s all subjective and frankly if someone thinks he’s the 17th best instead, I think that argument could be just as easily debated. The hand-wringing and arguing will go on regardless.

It’s not uniquely a Seahawks problem though. Welcome to the world of a team without a clear star, young, franchise quarterback. Until they find that guy, or until someone like Smith proves with results that he can lead a team to glory in the post-season, this will go on.

Schneider’s regret?

The Seahawks have re-signed Marquise Blair, their former second round pick from 2019. I really liked Blair as a prospect — he was violent, quick and my kind of player. I know people in the league who really liked him, projected him as a second round talent and it wasn’t a surprise to see the Seahawks go after him.

His time in Seattle didn’t work out, partly (mainly?) due to injury. His return was a bit of a surprise after he missed last year and was seemingly at the end of his time in the NFL. However, his return perhaps speaks to John Schneider’s mindset.

They were open to bringing back Jamal Adams, albeit to play a different position. Blair, another bust, is back. They kept Darrell Taylor at a cost of $3.13m when many wondered if he was set to move on. They’ve restructured Dre’Mont Jones’ deal, rather than part ways in camp to save money.

This is just a hunch — but I wonder if Schneider thinks, with regret, that a lot of Seattle’s big moves in recent years failed because the former staff couldn’t get the best out of them? Or that they didn’t use the players properly?

They seem keen to see what some of these guys, including the maligned Adams, can do with a different coaching staff. Frankly, I can understand it if Schneider feels this way. The Seahawks were awful on defense, didn’t make the most of an expensively assembled group and the coaching change earlier this year was warranted after years of waste.

Blair, as with Taylor and Jones, now has an opportunity to see if he can have a better season under Macdonald and co.

Please check out my latest appearance on Puck Sports below — plus if you missed it earlier, be sure to read Curtis Allen’s training camp day one review and my article on the Julian Love contract.

This is a guest post by Curtis Allen

A new era of Seahawk football took shape yesterday in their first-ever training camp under Mike Macdonald. It was immediately evident right from the start that Macdonald spent the spring and summer putting his personal stamp on things.

Gone is the chill good-times vibe that ran through Pete Carroll’s practices. Players seemed focused and educated on what their new Head Coach was asking of them. Drills and scrimmages were run crisply. Players hustled in and out of assignments, barely needing any encouragement from their leaders to get moving.

Sure, the signature music was there but at about 70% of the volume it used to be. It supplemented the work instead of dominating it. Coaches and players could communicate comfortably and receive instruction.

With this more regimented practice session, I would guess the team as a whole got about 15-20% more reps and drills in the same amount of time as previous team practices under Carroll. Quite good for a triumvirate of a first-time Head Coach and his two Coordinators, don’t you think? It would appear that a blueprint has been well laid by Macdonald and supplemented and enhanced by Leslie Frazier.

This also recommends a certain comfort and confidence in the leadership group. In past years, Carroll would be struggling to explain poor execution by his players weeks into the season. Clint Hurtt’s declarations down the stretch last year that the defense needed to ‘refocus on the fundamentals of tackling’ now stand out in stark contrast to what we are witnessing in practice with this new regime.

I know it is just one practice, but it sure felt like a page has been turned with this franchise.

The Quarterbacks

Watching the game’s most important position is always a highlight of training camp. Quarterbacks get a lot of opportunity to show their skills, what with very little actual pass rush and physical play from the defensive backs allowed early on.

Right from the start, there was an obvious difference between Geno Smith and Sam Howell. Two years ago, I wrote that “Geno warms up and practices with purpose and gives off a vibe that he is here to win the job.”

That is still true. Even in no-offensive-line drills, Smith is throwing crisp, on-target passes. Howell seems a step behind — not repping like he is facing a defense and just getting the ball to the receiver in a non-game type situation. Accuracy I wouldn’t say is an issue for Howell, but he was not nearly as good as Smith.

In the scrimmages, Smith proved superior to Howell, mainly due to taking more shots downfield and completing more than missing. Both checked down – quite a lot if we are being honest – but Howell more so than Smith. Check downs are fine as a side dish but an offense needs the protein of pushing the ball downfield and Smith had a decided advantage today.

Howell has not done nearly enough at this point to show he is going to put up a legitimate challenge for the starting job.

Something that Smith seems to have practiced in and developed more is looking off defenders. More than once, he had his vision locked to one side of the field, then switched focus to the other side and made a nice throw. Those types of actions are very hard to defend. If he can translate this skill to live games, watch out. At one point, Smith had Kenneth Walker flanking him in shotgun and had Lockett, DK Metcalf, Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Noah Fant running routes. A quarterback who can avoid locking in on targets will be graciously rewarded due to all the weapons he has.

That said, Smith still has a long way to go in order to master this offense. He mixed some brilliant throws (an absolute dime to Tyler Lockett with about six inches of space to work with was the best throw of the day by far) with some of his frustrating tendencies – being indecisive, holding onto the ball too long, then rushing the throw and making an incompletion.

One particular bugaboo that Smith and the offense have long struggled with reared its ugly head again today. During a scrimmage, there was a pause and one of the coaches was talking to Smith. They then lined up and immediately got flagged for a false start. On the next play, now behind the sticks, Smith threw a poor pass that fluttered and fell at Metcalf’s feet. That would have killed a drive in real life.

Let me remind you – it is the first day of camp. Things like this happen all the time. But it bears watching, as the offense has consistently struggled to get out of their own way at times when the games count.

Other Offensive Notes

Jaxon Smith-Njigba is looking like he is going to pick up right where he left off. The Seahawks had him primarily in the slot in scrimmages, frequently bunched with Metcalf. He had two excellent catches that attacked the middle of the field.

Metcalf and Tre Brown had a real battle today that was great to watch. Each won an impressive round – Metcalf with a great contested catch in the end zone with Brown draped all over him. Later, Brown stripping the ball out of Metcalf’s hands to either force an incompletion or a fumble.

The Right Tackle spot was a rotation between George Fant and McLendon Curtis. Coach Macdonald’s comments after practice indicated they like Curtis at Right Tackle ‘from a roster standpoint.’ That does not bode well for Abe Lucas’ recovery timetable.

Olu Oluwatimi got most of the reps as the Center with the top line. He seemed to handle it well, most snaps were shotgun which he delivered fine.

Charles Cross still looks thin to me. From my vantage point, when the linemen first came out, I thought a Tight End had gotten lost from his group and had wandered over to the linemen until I saw his number. Entering a critical year, he will need every bit of that quick-feet athleticism to take the next step. It does not look like he is going to ever make his mark as a physical presence.

Ryan Grubb and the offense are not going to show us much of their play concepts on day one of training camp. A lot of the scrimmage plays were fairly bland. One play I found very interesting though: On about the five-yard line, the Seahawks bunched three receivers to the right. The defense was trying to get all lined up, as they were caught off guard. It opened up the middle of the field for a slant and Cody White ran it well but could not secure an easy score off a Howell throw.

Defensive Notes

Jarran Reed and Johnathan Hankins are going to be trouble on the interior. Reed got his paw up and batted a pass and nearly intercepted it. Hankins was moving bodies inside. When you consider the Seahawks have other players like Leonard Williams and Byron Murphy who can also disrupt from the interior, that is really saying something.

Dre Jones spent the whole practice session lined up as a Defensive End in three-point stance. I could have missed it but not once did I see him line up where the OLB’s do. That may come later. But it bears monitoring.

On the first scrimmage series with the starting defense, Tariq Woolen and Tre Brown lined up on opposite sides of the field. On the second series, they flipped. Versatility is a key word we have been hearing from Macdonald this offseason. It appears they are trying to get all the cornerbacks some time on each side in order to expose them to the idea.

Derick Hall flattened Garret Greenfield at one point. Hall seemed far more energetic and engaged than he did as a rookie in camp. A great sign.

The three primary inside linebackers, Tyrell Dodson, Jarome Baker and Tyrice Knight all looked very competent and healthy. Dodson and Baker were just activated off the PUP list but took just about every rep they could and showed no physical challenges doing so. Knight looked fast.

Boye Mafe and Devon Witherspoon did not have a big play today but both just have the ‘it factor’ when they practice. Nothing will rattle them. They have a good grasp of what their assignments are and they know what they can do. Witherspoon was working as a nickel in a zone and his receiver was about to be handed off to the next zone defender so he gave him a little shove that knocked him off his route just enough and made Geno hesitate enough to disrupt the play. Little things like that.

Source: Safety Julian Love and the Seahawks reached agreement on a three/year extension worth up to $36 million. The deal was negotiated by Drew Rosenhaus, Jason Rosenhaus and Ryan Matha. pic.twitter.com/3RWfilS98X

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 24, 2024

Julian Love had a cap-hit for 2024 of $8.1m, the last year of his short-term initial contract in Seattle. Adam Schefter’s tweet is likely a typical ‘agent-fed’ release — note the term ‘worth up to’ before the number of $36m.

It probably won’t be $12m a year.

We’ll need to see the actual numbers because a $12m annual salary feels like a lot. He was PFF’s 22nd ranked safety last year with a 72.8 grade. It’s not bad but wouldn’t justify being the ninth highest paid player at his position if $12m a year ends up being the number.

That said, there could be some savviness to doing a deal now. The Seahawks clearly like Love and talked him up a lot when they signed him a year ago. He had a relatively decent first season when the rest of the defense went up in smoke. They perhaps anticipate him playing even better in Mike Macdonald’s scheme, a system that included two top-20 ranked safeties in Baltimore in 2023.

If he does have a great year, he would be even more expensive as a free agent to keep in the next off-season. Obviously the gamble is that there’s no guarantee he’ll continue to improve but sometimes you have to use foresight to get value.

It’s also worth noting that $12m a year, if it proves to be that type of deal, only puts him on a par with Grant Delpit and Jalen Thompson, while being slightly ahead of Amani Hooker and Justin Reid’s salaries. If the Seahawks really rate Love, you can make a case for saying he’s due what they’re earning.

Unsurprisingly, our very own Curtis Allen pitched a contract extension for Love in this ballpark in February.

This could also reduce his cap-hit this year, adding to Seattle’s $8.5m in effective cap space. That’s important if they want to sign Connor Williams, who passed a physical with the team today. Williams — who is coming off a very serious knee injury — was PFF’s #2 ranked center last season (86.5) before his season ended in week 14. He had a 78.2 grade in 2022 and has been consistently one of the better interior linemen in the NFL when healthy.

The Seahawks might’ve tied up a defender they like to a deal that’ll provide value down the line, while creating some room to upgrade their offensive line. That has to be the hope, anyway. Drew Rosenhaus represents both Love and Williams — and he was at training camp today.

You also wonder if this could be just the start for the Seahawks. Currently they are scheduled to be $20.4m over the cap for 2025. That’s without adding Love’s deal into the equation. An extension for D.K. Metcalf or Geno Smith, for example, would be costly but it could also create cap space this year or next. If they see either player as part of their longer-term thinking, it’s an option.

If you missed our new training camp live stream earlier, check it out here:

Join us from 3pm PT as we preview a new season of Seahawks football…

This week, Puck and I looked ahead to training camp next week. What are our hopes and expectations? Watch the video to find out…

Check it out!

Seattle’s quarterback depth chart includes a player who turns 34 in October, starting on a year-by-year prove-it basis, and a younger backup who threw 21 interceptions last season. The veteran has a $38.5m cap hit in 2025, while his understudy has two years left on his rookie deal.

Currently, quarterback scouting is important when it comes to the Seahawks. Here’s the start of my 2025 draft work with an extensive study of the class. I’ve now watched complete games from 2023 for many of these players. In some cases, I’ve also watched 2022 tape.

Here are my thoughts as of today, with the caveat that things can (and will) change during the upcoming college season.

Is it a good class?

At the moment I would say it is deeper than recent years but extremely limited at the top end. It is deeper because players have exhausted covid rules to stay in school, or have opted to take NIL money rather than turn pro.

I don’t think there is a clear top-10 pick at the position. Many are projecting Georgia’s Carson Beck in that area, simply because he’s probably the most complete of the bunch. I don’t think he has exciting physical tools. Shedeur Sanders has the talent to go in that range but he is a huge mystery in terms of the baggage that will come with him at the next level. His father is already making it clear he will have a lot of influence on his son’s pro career. Then there’s Quinn Ewers, who has the natural talent to be a high draft pick but has to prove he can be consistent and stay healthy.

It’s plausible to imagine all three going in the first frame, although nothing is assured. None are in the range of a player who is locked-in to be a top-five pick and it wouldn’t be a surprise if any of the trio didn’t go in the first round.

As we saw with Jayden Daniels (and Joe Burrow previously) it’s very possible for players to elevate their stock in a big way. The physical tools of Riley Leonard could push him up boards but he is currently more athlete than polished passer. I’m intrigued to see what Max Brosmer can do in the BIG-10 after transferring to Minnesota. There are others I will discuss. However, this is a class with a lot of players who are more suited to mid or late round grades at the moment. There are no clear, exciting solutions for round one — and this likely played a part in why so many teams aggressively pursued the 2024 QB class.

Thoughts on the ‘top three’

Carson Beck is a very accomplished player who operates the Georgia offense at a high level. He is not a spectacular, dynamic downfield thrower. He can put too much air on throws and he needs to do a better job layering passes. There are underthrown passes on tape and some whiffs. That said, there are also plenty of examples where you see high quality touch passes. He was very good at throwing inside with timing and his short/intermediate accuracy is good. Beck is not a great athlete so will not be a big improviser or runner. There aren’t any glaring errors there’s just not a ‘wow’ factor. I suspect he’ll be a low upside player who will suit QB-friendly schemes in that he’ll likely be able to execute a system well, rather than be asked to attack every area of the field with his arm or improv to create and extend plays.

Shedeur Sanders has big-time creative talent. There’s one play against Nebraska that has to be seen to be believed. Although it didn’t count in the end, his ability to scramble and extend under pressure is a major asset. Despite playing behind a truly embarrassing offensive line last season, he was willing to take hits to make things happen. He’s shown a level of toughness. There’s evidence of touch throws downfield, his arm is good enough and when Colorado started well last season, he looked like a top-end NFL talent. Things spiralled and his play suffered — although you wonder how much of that was down to terrible pass-protection. You started to see poor decision making. Pat Shurmur is now his offensive coordinator, bringing NFL expertise and an opportunity to reset and start again — hopefully with a better O-line. A concern teams will have will be the influence of his high-profile father following a weird spring where Prime & son took to social media to get involved in back-and-forth tittle tattle with former Colorado players. It was embarrassing, frankly, including a weird Twitter Voices episode involving Sanders Jr. and friends. This doesn’t scream leadership, accountability and maturity and when he goes to the league, it’ll be a first-time experience where his dad isn’t the coach. Unless his play is so good to make it a moot point, this will be a talking point.

Quinn Ewers is the player who intrigues me the most. He has the most natural talent in the class, with an ability to whip the ball out like Aaron Rodgers. His downfield throwing can be inconsistent but there’s ample evidence of perfectly lofted accuracy and velocity. His performance against Alabama was a great example of what he’s capable of and his display against Washington in the playoffs was, in my opinion, underrated. He can make plays in to tight windows, he throws layered passes nicely and there’s a technical quality here that you don’t see with others. His athleticism is surprisingly good and he’ll make plays with his legs when needed. Ewers is clearly far from the finished article but he is someone with the upside to be quite a NFL pro. That said, there are legit concerns about his durability and consistency. He’s been banged up two seasons in a row. Can he get through a full year? Can he avoid slumping accuracy when he’s not in rhythm? This is a big year, especially with his top three targets from last season turning pro and with Arch Manning waiting in the wings. He is the one player I think could be special from this class — but he has a ton to prove. There’s a chance he has another injury-hit season and continues to flirt with a level of quality he’ll never quite deliver consistently. Hopefully he’ll take the next step instead.

These are the three players, currently, who I think have the best chance to go in round one before the college season begins. However, none are guaranteed to earn that grade by the end of the year. There is no Caleb Williams, C.J. Stroud or Bryce Young type where the expectation was a year in advance that they’d comfortably go in the top-five.

The players who could make a jump

Riley Leonard has, at times, done a good job of being a poor-man’s Josh Allen. He willed Duke to wins by running around and making plays, while having enough arm to be a difference maker. That said, he doesn’t have Allen’s upside or arm. As a passer you want more — he has quite a few frustrating misses on tape that undermine the bright moments. He’s a terrific athlete with good size but he’s not a natural passer. He’s not accurate enough, his decision making is off too often and he lacks poise in the pocket. I wanted him to go somewhere with a Head Coach with a proven quality of developing QB’s but he’s gone to Notre Dame. I’m sure he’ll do a good job but whether he makes the technical improvements required to go from an ‘athlete playing QB’ to an ‘athletic quarterback’ remains to be seen. At the moment he looks like a mid-rounder but the tools make you wonder — and Notre Dame will be competitive enough to give him a platform. One thing to note — he hurt his ankle last season (ironically playing against Notre Dame) and he was then allowed to return to play before the end of the season when he clearly wasn’t ready. He got hurt again and has been struggling with the ankle ever since. It’s something to monitor.

Max Brosmer came to my attention during the 2024 draft process while watching Dylan Laube. He’s transferred from New Hampshire to Minnesota and I’m probably looking forward to watching him more than any other player next season. His release is quick and compact and he has an easy flick of the wrist to generate velocity downfield. He’s very good at looking off defenders to throw into layered areas. His accuracy on medium-to-long range throws is good and he’s a decent athlete. Clearly we need to see him take on superior opponents in the BIG-10 but Brosmer is extremely interesting and someone who could generate a growing buzz.

Conner Weigman at Texas A&M is a player I’m intrigued to see more of. He played in four games last season before getting hurt. In these four games he showed a decent arm and the ability to throw into tight windows. He’s willing to take a hit and will stand tall in the pocket. His mechanics are not fun to watch though and he has an unappealing throwing motion. Even so, there were enough flashes to warrant closer inspection next season and with the Aggies now having a new coach, it’ll be interesting to see if Weigman excels.

Thoughts on the rest

After this, I have to say there’s not an awful lot to get excited about in terms of early round picks. There are players I certainly like — yet you wouldn’t necessarily call them likely NFL starters or players destined to go in the first two rounds.

Let’s start with Brady Cook at Missouri and Jacob Zeno at UAB. Cook flies under the radar but did as much as anyone last year to elevate Mizzou. He’s creative, can throw on the run and move around with his legs. He lacks outstanding physical tools but he was a lot more fun to watch — and effective — than a lot of the bigger name quarterbacks eligible for the draft in 2025. I was impressed watching Zeno, who snubbed attractive NIL offers to stick at UAB to his credit. I like his arm on tape, although it’s in the good-not-great range. He puts the ball into good areas. I’m intrigued to see more. Both players could be, for example, fourth round types that are worth adding.

The Ole Miss offense is shocking to watch for pro-projection and the scheme does a lot of the heavy lifting for Jaxson Dart. On the plus side, he has shown ideal loft on some throws and he throws very catchable passes. His accuracy is decent. Dart will give receivers a lot of catchable 50/50 opportunities. However, he lacks great arm velocity and the scheme attacks the sidelines more than over the middle, plus there’s a ton of high-percentage stuff. His accuracy is hit and miss. He can get flustered and fall apart a bit. He looks like a very reasonable mid-round type.

I’ve never watched Jalen Milroe and felt like I was watching a NFL starter. He has a decent arm but his accuracy can be an issue. His footwork and mechanics need major work. There’s no evidence of an ability to go through progressions and he looks like a good college athlete playing quarterback. Now — I do trust Kalen DeBoer to make significant technical improvements to Milroe and for that reason, he might be able to make a jump. Playing for Alabama doesn’t hurt. Plus after being benched last season, you have to credit the way he came back and performed. At the moment though, it’s hard to suggest anything more than the middle rounds at best.

Tyler Van Dyke is very much in the ‘what could’ve been’ category. He burst on to the scene at Miami and threw the ball all over the field. He went toe-to-toe against Kenny Pickett on the road. He turned a messy Miami team into a tough-out. Then the coaching switch to Mario Cristobal happened and unsurprisingly, everything fell apart. He regressed over two years, leading to his transfer to Wisconsin. Cristobal’s scheme did nothing to focus on TVD’s qualities as a downfield pocket passer and just made things limited, dull and as with Justin Herbert — we never saw the quarterback at his best. The weaknesses — heavy feet and poor decision making — shone brighter than any positives. He’ll need to rebuild his career in the BIG-10. He’ll need to win a starting job first and foremost which is no guarantee.

Cam Ward will replace Van Dyke in Miami but I think he’s more of a decent college player than a likely NFL starter. He has some skill as a creative quarterback but his decision making is questionable at times. He’s a good athlete with a reasonable arm but he’s not a ‘wow’ physical talent. He also gets the Cristobal offense. Right now, I think he’s more of a later round pick.

Drew Allar didn’t impress me at Penn State. His arm is decent and he’s a big guy but his accuracy is all over the place. His performance against Ohio State was a hot mess. He doesn’t look comfortable at all when pressured. Too many throws are way off. He can move well for his size but he just doesn’t look like a technically gifted passer. The Penn State offense, such as it is, won’t offer much of a development opportunity. He makes his receivers work for the ball too much, his anticipation is poor and his ball placement is bad (he throws low and behind). His processing and accuracy is poor. Frankly, I don’t think he’s draftable based on his 2023 tape.

Will Howard is a player I have a ton of respect for. At Kansas State he kept grinding. That wasn’t easy amid a high level of scrutiny and what felt like an unnecessary time-share at the position last season. He’s a better athlete than you’d expect, he could go toe-to-toe with good teams in big games. Howard has talent as a college passer. However, it’s not easy to imagine him as a NFL starter or a high draft pick currently. He’s transferred to Ohio State which is a big plus for his potential. They’ve brought back so much talent and deserve to be considered favourites for the National Championship. That could really elevate Howard’s stock if he can lead them to a title. At the moment though, he’s more of a fourth round type. His opportunity and supporting cast give him the best chance of any of the names in this group to elevate his stock, though.

Garrett Nussmeier has limited starting experience but we’ve seen players take a big jump at LSU over the years. In the limited tape available he appears to have a command of the offense and his accuracy and ball placement was interesting. Still, we’re going off one full Bowl Game against Wisconsin. He doesn’t look like a great athlete. It’s hard to project him currently but he’ll be worth a watch.

I don’t view Will Rogers, KJ Jefferson, Grayson McCall or DJ Uiagalelei as likely pro-prospects. Rogers has transferred to Washington, Jefferson to UCF, McCall to NC State and Uiagalelei to Florida State.

Other players could emerge during the season but these are the players I have studied so far.

Final thoughts

I’m convinced the Seahawks are looking for a Favre-esque player. A gunslinger who can make magic happen on the run, possessing a big arm and natural ability. He can be rough around the edges and take risks as long as they have the tools.

Everything points to this. Their interest in Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen. John Schneider’s love for Drew Lock. The fact they traded for Charlie Whitehurst. Russell Wilson had these qualities. Sam Howell has this style of play too.

When I look at this class, I don’t really see that type of player. I am not optimistic that the Seahawks will find their answer from this group, even though I can imagine Schneider wanting to monitor some of the names.

I think this is another reason why they traded for Howell. I’m not sure they see an obvious solution here — and Howell gives them a younger player to work on in 2024 and 2025 with previous starting experience in the league. By January we could be viewing this class differently and depending on how the Seahawks perform, we could be viewing their need at the position very differently (in a positive or negative sense).

At this moment, though, I am not particularly optimistic about a long-term solution emerging from this group for the Seahawks. There are players I like but this is not a class, at least at the top-end, that gets you on the edge of your seat. The hope has to be that players will take a big jump — as Daniels did last year at LSU and Michael Penix Jr and Bo Nix did when they transferred to Washington and Oregon in 2022. In all three instances, a leap into the early first round was not expected. There are naturally gifted players here, like Ewers at Texas, so we’ll see if he can deliver. Anyone who does will likely fly up boards, given the lack of obvious high first-round options.

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