Author: Rob Staton (Page 1 of 452)

I wrote a different version of this article. I’ve torn it up and started again.

If you watch the video I’ve posted above, you’ll see me discussing the sale of the Seahawks with Brian Nemhauser and Jeff Simmons. At the start of the conversation, I suggested the best approach for Seattle’s new owners would be to change as little as possible and invest faith in the people already working for the franchise.

I still firmly believe that would be beneficial. The Seahawks are a roaring success — on and off the field. It’s a unique situation where the existing Super Bowl Champions are for sale.

There are so many positives within the organisation that this should be a fairly smooth transition to a new era.

However, Brian played some clips of Vinod Khosla discussing some of his philosophical approaches to business. It changed my opinion — and ultimately the article I wanted to promote today.

I would urge you to check out the stream to view the clips. Clearly Khosla, described by ESPN as the leader of the group, has far more to offer the Seahawks than mere delegation and support.

He talked about constantly seeking ways to improve, the correct way to challenge people in order to enable them to reach their maximum potential and other such topics. He did it in far more detailed and technical language that I’m offering here — but ultimately he sounded like a man with a lot to offer.

Khosla also comes across as an ideal fit to work alongside Mike Macdonald and John Schneider. I challenge anyone to listen to his words and not see what he’s saying as simply another form of ‘chasing edges’ — the mantra so successfully adopted by Macdonald over the last two-and-a-bit years.

There’s no sense of an ego. In one other clip I’ve seen, not featured by Brian, Khosla noted how he still feels he’s learning even at the age of 71. He speaks with great clarity and assurance.

The fear with any prospective buyer would be that they’d want to come in and reinvent things completely. That isn’t necessary in Seattle. Yet there’s always a new edge to chase. Always a way to find marginal gains. I was wrong to initially suggest they should simply offer unconditional support and trust. They should back the people so ably running this franchise but also keep them on their toes. It sounds like that will be the plan.

The hour spent with Brian and Jeff opened my eyes, even with just a few short clips, that this can be a positive move for the Seahawks. Added to this is their prior knowledge of the inner-workings of the NFL, given their minority owner status with the 49ers.

It would’ve been reassuring to some (most?) fans if the new owners were rooted in the Pacific North West with a long-standing fandom of the Seahawks. It should be remembered, however, that local-legend Paul Allen-type owners are rare. With a price-tag pushing eleven figures this was always going to be a very niche pool of potential buyers.

The speculation of a ‘local whale’ was unhelpful and seemingly based on no substance. No big-name local was ever connected and the speculation only served to raise hopes that a Seattleite champion would emerge. It didn’t materialise and feels like fans were led down a garden path. There may now be some harrumphing. I hope we avoid that.

The buyers deserve to be embraced and given an opportunity to reveal what type of ownership group they will be.

Watch the video above. I think you’ll find the clips insightful.

It was with a great deal of interest that I noticed Leonard Williams had been voted the top defensive tackle in the NFL this week.

ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler followed up an exercise he did last year — polling league executives, coaches and scouts to rank the top-10 players at each position.

Williams came out on top. It might surprise some people — but it really shouldn’t.

We spent several weeks last season just basking in Williams’ brilliance. He is exactly the type of player that, for so long, we had to watch the Rams, 49ers and Cardinals possess. It always felt like the Seahawks were truly lacking a game-impacting interior presence. Williams filled the void.

“He was the most important player on that Super Bowl team” suggested one coordinator in Fowler’s poll. I think you can definitely make that case.

Players like Williams are rare. Elite size (6-5, 310lbs) with matching athleticism. He doesn’t carry bad weight and the frame and build are ideal. He has the twitch and quickness highlighted by a 4.97 40-yard dash at his combine — with the agility highlighted by a 4.53 short-shuttle.

There’s a reason why he was the #6 overall pick in 2015.

You then combine the physical profile with an exceptional attitude, work-ethic, determination and presence. He will get sacks through his own sheer brilliance — but he also creates major opportunities for others.

“You can line him up in front of the right tackle, the right guard, the center, the left guard, the left tackle — he can beat them all” said a veteran NFC defensive coach in Fowler’s piece. “He’s always had game-changing ability, and he’s putting it all together now. And those around him are making plays because of it too.”

I remember writing an article in 2014, noting how horrible the thought was of one day having to replace Marshawn Lynch — such was his impact in games. I feel exactly the same way about Leonard Williams now.

You only get these players by picking very early or by getting lucky. It’s preposterous that in his career he has been traded twice for as little as he has.

The Seahawks have clearly drafted another very talented defensive tackle in Byron Murphy. He’s a very different player though. They perfectly compliment each other, rather than one being the heir apparent for the other.

Williams is such a natural athlete that he can probably play for as long as he wishes. He turned 32 this year but he’s unlikely to hit any wall soon. It’s very easy to imagine him playing into his mid-30’s if he desires.

That raises an underrated talking point about his future. He has void years in his contract for 2027 and 2028. So this is his final season, at the moment.

The Seahawks will not be able to replace Williams. Getting him tied down to a new deal would be a wise move. It would be a gesture that could create a commitment between team and player that the end doesn’t have to be nigh. It would be a reassuring partnership that could be the catalyst for sustained success.

Yes — you have to be careful with contracts once you become a winner. The Seahawks are going to have to pay a lot of people. This includes, potentially, quarterback Sam Darnold within the next 12 months — plus Murphy and possibly the likes of AJ Barner. They’ll eventually pay Devin Witherspoon at some point this year.

They did make a nice chunky saving on Derrick Hall though — so that could present an opportunity to take advantage of.

Williams is most certainly, in my opinion, worth the $28m-a-year Dexter Lawrence is getting from the Bengals. I would argue you can justifiably get him up to the $32m Chris Jones get. This ranking, however, gives him leverage. If the league thinks he’s #1 — why isn’t he paid as such? Jeffery Simmons is the new-money leader on $35m a year.

Tying down Williams and Hall, then eventually Murphy, creates the foundation of your defense during this current Championship window. Frankly, there’s no contract I would be unhappy with if the Seahawks opted to extend Williams’ deal.

He’s a top-tier player who also happens to be an excellent pro. He is exactly the type of individual this team wants to build around — and he’s a huge reason why they are Super Bowl Champions.

You won’t find another player like this — so making a fresh commitment would be a good idea.

This is a guest article by Curtis Allen…

The link between a good Quarterback and a successful team is one of the most foundational principles in the NFL.  While the team with the best Quarterback does not always win the Super Bowl, no one position can affect a team’s success more.

Therefore, teams are on a continual quest to make the position work for them.  First, they must find a Quarterback who can take them deep in the playoffs.  Once they have one, they turn their attention to managing his next contract within the scope of the salary cap, which at times can be no less challenging.

The Seahawks are obviously in the latter group.  Sam Darnold has proven to be a good fit with the team, and their Super Bowl window is wide open.  His superb performances down the stretch and in the playoffs have cemented that feeling.  It is reasonable to conclude that both sides are thrilled with their partnership and desire that it to continue for the foreseeable future.

That means working out an extension.  Darnold will be entering the last year of his contract in 2027.  While the team has done excellent work extending Rashid Shaheed, Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Derick Hall this summer, a Quarterback contract is the fulcrum of a team’s salary cap.  It is not far-fetched to think that the Seahawks negotiated those contracts with a Darnold extension in the back of their minds.

Having led the Seahawks to a Super Bowl win on one of the most reasonable veteran contracts in the league, we are all bracing for the impact of what will no doubt be the biggest contract in franchise history.

The biggest question on everyone’s mind is:  Can the Seahawks pay Darnold commensurate with other top Quarterbacks and still field a championship-worthy roster?

Answer: With an extension that is properly structured, they absolutely can in 2026, 2027 and 2028.  The 2029 season is the first real point they will have to assess where they are with Darnold and consider some decisions.

How?

A Contract Sketch

I picked a rate near the top of the market to give us an idea of what we can expect: $55 million annually.  As we discussed recently there are several Quarterbacks in line for new contracts.  That number will not be the top of the market by the time a new contract is signed.  If Darnold has another strong season, we can expect a contract to be somewhere in that range.

The contract details: Every penny of Darnold’s 2027 salary that can be converted to a signing bonus ($24 million) has been.

There are option bonuses in 2028 ($20m) and 2029 ($25m) and roster bonuses in 2030 and 2031 of $20 million each.

The first-year cash is an extremely healthy $55.5 million.  With the option and roster bonuses, Darnold essentially gets a nice lump payment every year aside from his salary.

The Seahawks reduce Darnold’s 2027 cap number by $23.2 million.  By substantially lowering his cap hit, they create room for extensions or acquisitions to strengthen the roster.

The Seahawks can escape the contract with a slight cap savings in 2029 before the option bonus triggers.  It would mean a large dead cap hit but is doable.  This gives them two seasons to draft or develop a Quarterback behind him, or simply an out in case they deem it necessary.

If they want to keep Darnold, they can gain as much as $26 million in cap room with a restructuring in 2029.

That year might also be a pivot point for the roster.  Current team pillars DeMarcus Lawrence, Jarran Reed, Leonard Williams and Cooper Kupp will likely be gone.  The Seahawks are set up nicely to fill their voids with players such as Derick Hall, Byron Murphy, possibly Rylie Mills, Tory Horton and Elijah Arroyo.  Plus, they will have three more draft classes on the roster contributing at some level.

That is not to say with the contract I proposed, the Seahawks must do something with Darnold’s contract in 2029 in order to remain competitive for a championship.

Have a look at the “% of Cap” column on that table.  The Seahawks would commit acceptable amounts of the cap on Darnold’s contract in 2027 and 2028.  However, in 2029 the contract takes almost 15% of the cap, almost 18% in 2030 and 16.6% in 2031.

At first glance, it would appear to be a major obstacle to keeping their Super Bowl window open through those years.  Why?

In the salary cap era, only two Quarterbacks have won Super Bowls while counting for 13% or more of the salary cap:  Steve Young and Patrick Mahomes.

With all due respect, Sam Darnold is no Young or Mahomes.

That would seem to suggest that the Seahawks should not pay Darnold his value and should start searching for their next Quarterback right now.

That does not have to be the case.  I would argue the Seahawks could very easily make an extension like this allow them to still pursue multiple shots at a championship with Darnold leading the way.

The 13% number is not an inviolable barrier that teams must respect at all costs.  It is not as black and white as it seems.

Quarterback Contracts and the Pursuit of a Championship

A closer look at the Super Bowl winners and losers the last ten years reveals that the 13% of the cap threshold really needs some context.

There are a few instances where the low numbers are honest:  the Quarterbacks on rookie contracts.  Drake Maye last year, Brock Purdy in 2022, Joe Burrow in 2021 and Mahomes in 2019 and 2020.  I say they are honest because those cap percentages reflect what the players are actually paid by their teams to start.

Yet look at Jalen Hurts.  2.6% in 2023 and 5.2% in 2024.  Those are not numbers from his rookie contract, but rather his 5-year $255 million extension.  Why so low?  The Eagles placed $97 million of void year money on the end to finance those crazy low numbers.  If they paid Hurts on a ‘regular’ contract his numbers would have been between 12-15% and he would be right there.

Plus Matthew Stafford.  The Rams paid him 10.7% of the cap in their Super Bowl year.  However, to acquire Stafford in trade with Detroit, they had to commit to eating $24.7 million in dead cap money they had paid to Jared Goff.  Figure that in, and the Rams are over 20% spent on their starting Quarterback in their Super Bowl winning season.

By the same logic the Seahawks committed more than Sam Darnold’s 4.7% last year.  They took a near equal amount of dead cap on Geno Smith’s contract to make it happen, so their number is closer to 10%.

The point being, contract structure and cap manipulation have greatly affected those numbers.  Teams still have to find a way to pay their star Quarterbacks top dollar, and those numbers are not fully reflected when the ‘under 13% standard’ is discussed.

Therefore, the Seahawks can sign Darnold to a very healthy extension, with a couple of years at the end that are above that 13% number, and then take steps like restructuring to take that number down and pick up some cap room.

The Cincinnati Bengals did just that a few weeks ago.  Joe Burrow’s cap number for 2026 was at 15.2% but to finance the acquisition of Dexter Lawrence, Boye Mafe and Jonathan Allen, they restructured his deal and Burrow now sits at 11.9%.

There is another method of handling a Quarterback contract over 13% teams have employed successfully:  ignore it and improve your team in other areas.  There are several ways to do it.

Look at Matt Ryan in 2016 on that graphic.  He sat at 15% and but for an all-time comeback by the Patriots, he has a ring.  They did not lose the game because of some cap math.

Stafford last year was at 16.9% and got very, very close to winning it all.  I think we can all agree that if they had found a way to beat Seattle, they very likely would have been able to beat New England for the title.

This method is gaining steam across the league:  This year, Stafford is at 15.4%, Justin Herbert 15.2%, Josh Allen 14.7% and Dak Prescott 13.1%.

With John Schneider’s ability to draft and Mike Macdonald’s ability to mold talent, I can see the Seahawks sticking with a 14.96% cap number for Darnold in 2029.

Then in 2030, they do a little restructuring to get the number down and in 2031 get the number down again by extending Darnold or exploring other options.

The Seahawks have been successful with Quarterback contracts near the bottom of the market.  This next challenge will be to win with a contract that is much more expensive.

It is true that having a big cap number for your Quarterback narrows the margin for error.  Yet with creativity and a commitment to constantly develop the other parts of the roster, it absolutely can be accomplished.

The Seahawks can extend Sam Darnold and keep their Super Bowl window open.

For the first time in a long time, a player will enter the supplemental draft this summer with a level of warranted intrigue.

Yet Brendan Sorsby, for me, is indicative of the growing desperation among NFL and draft media to elevate players beyond a level that is justified.

All you’ll have heard about the 2027 quarterback so far is highly positive. Respected draft pundits are suggesting it could be the best in years.

I would urge caution against that.

Let’s not forget, 2026 was supposed to go the same way too. A year ago many were suggesting Cade Klubnik was QB1 and destined to be a first round pick. The Jets rather generously picked him in round four instead.

There are a bunch of quarterbacks with ample potential but a lot to prove. There are players with tools and/or talent who need to take a big leap this year. Sorsby would’ve fit that profile perfectly had he spent a season with Texas Tech. Instead, he’s heading to the NFL.

The reason is down to gambling — and by all accounts Sorsby presents a very modern dilemma. America has opened itself up to legal sports gambling, something we’ve had in England for a long time. How you adjust to it’s sudden availability, rapid rise in popularity and relentless promotion will be a challenge — particularly when you’re judging what players themselves can or cannot do. Plus, how do you evaluate players who may or may not end up with a problem (as so many people do)?

First and foremost, before you get into the player evaluation, you’ll need to work out how you feel about Sorsby’s penchant for gambling — including betting on his own team when he was in Indiana. He reportedly recently entered rehab for gambling addiction.

The fear probably won’t be that in the future he’ll once again gamble on his own team. It could be, though, that his is an issue that isn’t readily solved. Gambling can really become a big problem for so many people. Quarterback is a highly demanding position and any distraction, such as money problems or the constant need to seek out the next bet, could be a fear for teams.

You will need to do extensive research on the person, the level of the issue and have in place proper care and guidance. Any team prepared to use a pick on him will obviously do this work.

So what about on the field?

I came away underwhelmed.

I thought his accuracy was a problem with wayward throws the biggest issue. He just doesn’t throw a catchable ball enough of the time, especially when attacking 1v1 in scoring position.

His completion percentage backs this up — his 61.6% mark ranked 84th among college quarterbacks last season.

There isn’t enough evidence of layered throws, accuracy into tight windows or fitting plays into difficult spots.

There were some oddities to his game too. For example, he surprisingly gets a lot of air on his ‘moon ball’ and the kind of loft you’d typically want when throwing downfield. Yet the throws often die at the last minute.

I’ll try to explain this the best I can. He can throw a 55-yard pass with great height on the delivery. Yet for some reason, the ball fades at the end. Receivers had to adjust too often late in the throw.

It suggested that mechanically there are some issues, or that he’s arming the ball out and he doesn’t have the natural combination of touch and strength to make easy throws downfield. He doesn’t throw with a great base.

He can hang passes too much. There was a throw on the run vs Kentucky last season where the receiver creates separation and is wide open. Just get it out to him for a score. The ball flutters in the air and lands about four feet away from the receiver. It should’ve been an easy touchdown.

In the same game, on another throw in a similar situation, he left the ball in the air too long that by the time the catch was made, the receiver was absolutely levelled (and luckily held on to the catch).

To me it felt like there was a bit too much RPO in the Cincinnati system and it propped him up a little bit. He could work on the short-intermediate throws off the play-fake and there was a lot of quick-hit, get the ball out stuff on tape.

When he kept the ball as a runner it was hit and miss. He has a Drew Lock level of mobility and that enables him to run around a bit. When he gets out into space he’s not a sloth as a runner. He has some athletic ability.

Yet he also runs into big hits far too often and seemed to trust his ability as a runner way too much. If he plays the same way in the NFL he’s going to be another Jaxson Dart, getting hammered all the time.

On the plus side — he can read and attack the intermediate level well especially off play-action. He also does have some ‘wow’ throws playing out of structure — and he can adjust his arm angles to make things happen.

He’s well sized and I think the aim should be to try and get him into a Shanahan-type offense where he can learn to better play within structure and his intermediate skill can shine — and not expect that you’re getting the next Josh Allen just because he likes to move around.

Purely as a football prospect I wouldn’t personally be spending a pick on him in the supplemental draft. I can understand teams who just want to take shots — especially the Cardinals with their new offense — being willing to maybe chance their arm with a third round dart-throw.

In terms of the Seahawks though — with an underrated topic on Sam Darnold’s potential future contract situation likely to emerge in the coming months, depending on how he plays in 2026 — I wouldn’t be rushing to bring in Sorsby as someone who could eventually replace him.

This is a guest article by Curtis Allen…

Currently Seattle is in an enviable spot at the most important position on the football field.

Sam Darnold is the starter, a Super Bowl champion coming off a smashing success of a playoff run.  The questions about his performance in critical games have been answered.

And now, the Seahawks sit in an advantageous spot: Paying a Super Bowl-winning Quarterback one of the lowest rates in the league for a veteran starter with two seasons still left on his contract.

Drew Lock is a capable if unspectacular backup and Jalen Milroe is the toolsy project.

That is impressive stability at the position.  However, between injuries, player performance, short contracts, and market volatility, stability can be lost quickly, and the entire team’s roster and salary cap can be affected.

Much work needs to be done behind the scenes.  When critical decisions need to be made or opportunities are presented, unprepared teams can get caught napping and could cost themselves dearly.

John Schneider is no stranger to this exercise.  Last year, he and the team literally pivoted from Geno Smith on Friday to Darnold on Monday and it paid off handsomely.

Being able to make a change at the very top of the roster so seamlessly does not happen without an enormous amount of preparation.

There is also another factor in the equation this year: The team is expected to be sold this fall.  The new ownership might bring all new standards of how they operate financially and those kinds of principles take time to implement, given the timeline of running a billion-dollar business and the new contracts the Seahawks have committed to this summer.  Schneider will need to operate the franchise while adapting to new mandates.  Assuring the future of the roster while dealing with those unknowns demands exploring all available possibilities.

Therefore, not doing your due diligence is negligent.  Scenarios that we fans would class as “that would never happen” must at least be brainstormed and response strategies need to be devised and ready to implement with precision.  This is how Schneider and the Seahawks stay ahead of the curve at the position.  Thinking outside the box needs to be the rule, not the exception.

What issues are Schneider and the rest of the Front Office preparing for this season?

2027 is Another Key Offseason

Next year, Sam Darnold enters the last year of his contract, Drew Lock is a Free Agent, Jalen Milroe will be entering his third NFL season, and the Quarterback class in the draft from this distance appears to be a deep one.

There will be plenty of prep work to do.

We talked about the importance of this season for Jalen Milroe in detail here and here.

With backups and developmental Quarterbacks, there is much that goes on behind the scenes that we do not see.  Performance in front of fans in camp and in the preseason are important but not the entire picture that teams use to evaluate their players.

Therefore, we need to be prepared for all eventualities.

There are arguments for patience (Milroe is a tremendous physical talent, and if he can help the team with some gadget plays this fall that provides value) and against patience (Current roster depth at other spots makes 3 QBs an unaffordable luxury, and there is a potentially deep Quarterback class in 2027 where the Seahawks own more than enough picks to take a shot at another one).

As we have pointed out, Milroe can make all these discussions moot with a major step forward.

However, Schneider will not sit and wait to find out.  The Seahawks will be busy thoroughly scouting college passers this fall.

Keeping an open mind about the future, one idea the Seahawks will consider is perhaps trading up in the draft if there is a Quarterback they like.  If this is indeed a deep class, there may be someone within an acceptable range available.  An argument could be made that twelve draft picks may be too many picks to make this deep and talented roster.  There could be a ‘kill two birds with one stone’ moment where they move two or three picks to go up and get a passer they consider worthy – particularly if the goal is to continually invest in the position.  Much work will need to be done to determine if there is someone of that value come draft day.

And it may not be simply to replace Milroe’s spot.  There are multiple applications available if they decide to invest in the draft.

Up to and including who the starting Quarterback is in 2027.

Sam Darnold and the Veteran Market

First let me say this: I think Darnold and the Seahawks have found something that works well for all parties.  Not only is he an effective player, but he is also a stabilizing influence.  A mere two weeks into the season, his teammates were praising him for his leadership and effectiveness in keeping them on an even keel during games.  That is something they lacked in their last starter.

And Week Eleven may have been the turning point of the whole season.  An ugly Darnold game resulted in a close loss for the Seahawks and put a division title in question.  Yet after the Super Bowl win, Darnold pointed to the game as the moment he knew the team was for real.  To make that many mistakes and lose by a hair was convincing evidence.

And if you did not agree with that, Ernest Jones has a message for you.  What is easily the Seahawks’ ‘player soundbite of the year’ is a teammate vehemently defending Darnold after a tough loss.

His chemistry and performance with the team (along with his price point) make him a great fit.  All signs point to a fruitful partnership well beyond the term of his current contract.

But there’s that darn market.  It will not stop finding ways to present challenges to building a winning franchise.

Coming off a Super Bowl win, Darnold is near the bottom of the pay scale.  Among established veteran starters only Baker Mayfield (Free Agent in 2027), Aaron Rodgers (43 years old) and Kirk Cousins (38 and a placeholder for Fernando Mendoza) make less than him.

That is both a testament to the Seahawks’ shrewdness and vision and the insanity that is the market for Quarterbacks.

This offseason, Daniel Jones got a huge 33% raise over Darnold’s deal – including $54.5 million in first-year cash – after washing out in New York, then playing only thirteen games with the Colts.  He is coming off a torn Achilles and may not be able to start Week One.  (Jones owes his agent a whole case of rare scotch for playing Indy like a fiddle).

The latest is example is Kansas City tacking two years onto Patrick Mahomes’ mega-contract.  He is tied to the Chiefs through 2033 and now stands atop the NFL salary structure with a $63-64 million per year average.

This might be hard to grasp but it is a smart move by the Chiefs.  No doubt the market will keep rising dramatically, with Lamar Jackson likely the next candidate for the new top contract.  He might eclipse $70 million.

Mayfield will only be 31 years old next spring.  Matthew Stafford’s current 2027 contract is a dummy placeholder – with another MVP-type season and he can ask for whatever he wants.  Ty Simpson can keep waiting.

Jalen Hurts has two years left on his contract, but the Eagles are extremely good at extending their core players early and might work something out this winter.

And then you have the players on rookie contracts who will be eligible for extensions: C.J. Stroud, Caleb Williams, Drake Maye, Jayden Daniels and Bo Nix.

You are welcome to argue that Darnold is above or below any of these players in a ranking of Quarterbacks.  But one thing is certain:  They will all eclipse his current contract value soon.

I am not building a case for the Seahawks to trade Darnold next year or let him play out his deal and walk in 2028.  Just looking at the landscape in which the Seahawks are operating in.

What kind of contract will work for Darnold and the Seahawks?  That will be addressed in an upcoming piece.  I do think one that works for both parties is viable.

But I do not speak for both parties.

For John Schneider, this season will be about establishing what Darnold’s value is and setting in place some parameters for what will work for the team.  That includes term of the contract, the cash payment schedule and allows them enough room to continue fielding a competitive roster.

For Darnold and his representatives, it will be about reaching an understanding of what he really wants.  If he has a fantastic season and leads the Seahawks to another championship, theoretically he can name his price for his next contract.  He may not get it from Seattle, but somebody would gladly pay it.

But is that his heart’s desire?  Or would he rather stay with a drama-free organization with a proven track record of incredible success and settle for less than top-market wages?

The latter seems much more likely.

However, the Seahawks need to get to work to cover all their bases this season.  Assuming a Darnold extension will be easy work is a fool’s errand.

With that in mind, they will be looking at both the draft and the potentially available veteran options this fall.

Mayfield will likely be extended or Franchise Tagged by the Bucs.  But what if he is not?  He could snap right into place as the heir to Darnold.  He has a very similar story to Darnold, a high draft pick that has taken his lumps but risen above them to find success with a well-run franchise.  His performance in defeating the Seahawks in Week 5 is a great example of what he brings to his team.  The scrappy toughness he has in the pocket when plays break down is like Darnold’s, and he is not afraid to air the ball out and take his shots.

Cousins will be available next year, barring some kind of radical reworking of his contract.  He is nobody’s idea of a top Quarterback at this stage, but he knows the Kubiak/Shanahan system and paired with a top defense and a successful running game, could be an effective stopgap.

Mac Jones might be an interesting option.  He performed very well in Brock Purdy’s place last year and kept San Francisco afloat.  He obviously is familiar with the offense and presumably has a relationship with Brian Fleury.

And then you have talented but flawed projects like Will Levis and Anthony Richardson.  Would a breath of fresh air inject some life into their careers and help them return to a place where they are in the discussion to be a long-term starter?  Or would the Seahawks just be duplicating skillsets they already have with Levis (Drew Lock) and Richardson (Jalen Milroe) and just be better off bringing back players they have history with?

And assessment needs to be made.

The options I mentioned might evaporate.  New ones might emerge.  Scouting the draft class might reveal several avenues the team could take.

A best-case scenario involves extending Darnold at a team-friendly rate and Jalen Milroe solidly taking the backup job from Drew Lock and providing occasional boosts to the offense.

And given how easily the Seahawks have made the transition from Pete Carroll to John Schneider as the Director of Football Operations, it would be easy to think that is the route the team will take.

But it will not be easy.  Great players make spectacular plays look easy, and that is what Schneider and the Seahawks have done in building a Super Bowl winner.  Made it look easy.

The truth is, there is a ton of work to do behind the scenes to lay the groundwork for these decisions.  And one thing we can have confidence in: John Schneider is not afraid of hard work or tough decisions.

It was being discussed in the recent Jalen Milroe article threads — so I want to bring up an idea I’ve had in the past for a much-needed development system within the NFL.

For far too long players come into the league and exit again without much of a chance to develop and show what they can do. This is particularly problematic for young quarterbacks — who don’t have an opportunity to experience meaningful reps unless they are drafted early and fast-tracked to start quickly.

We’re also going through a situation where we’re running out of attractive coaching prospects with play-calling experience. Wouldn’t it be a great opportunity to set up a system where up-and-coming coaches can call a game?

The idea I have also fills the substantial void we see between now and training camp — although I suspect some in the NFL may wish to protect that and not turn the league into a 12-month marathon where coaches and office staff can never take a break.

So here’s the idea. Create a situation where you have six games per season against your division opponents (three home, three road). So in the case of the Seahawks, they would play the Rams, 49ers and Cardinals home and away.

The teams would be made up of players on your roster you wish to expose to the experience. Extend the roster limit to 100-120 if you want, so that teams have plenty of available players at their disposal. Or simply allow teams to sign players on short-term deals specifically for this opportunity.

Appoint a staff from within — so you give, for example, positional coaches with aspirations to be coordinators the chance to do the job. You can designate a Head Coach too.

Market this properly — perhaps even with a Championship game at the end if desired. Tap into rivalries and the pride of seeing your young players beat the young players within the rest of your division.

It might not work. Fans might not care. They might not want to pay for tickets to three home games to watch young or unproven players play. Give it a chance though. You can always fold the idea if it flops.

The benefits are — live snaps for quarterbacks who are not starters but could really use the reps to enhance their development. It’s not just the quarterbacks — players could really develop and improve playing four quarters of competitive football and having a platform to showcase who they are beyond the current limited opportunities available in camp or pre-season.

Coaches can also be developed and can catch the eye as they build their careers. If someone has two or three impressive years calling plays in this setup — they could be seen as a prime candidate for a coordinator job.

More football for fans — and an opportunity to go and watch your team play heated rivals to see who has the deepest crop of young talent in the division.

The only downside I can see is whether it’s financially viable. Again, fans might not have any active interest in this. Yet they turn out for pre-season games and they’re arguably far less interesting than this arrangement. Why wouldn’t you be intrigued to go and watch three games of Jalen Milroe to see what he can do? And it’s only three home games each — a small commitment.

It could extend careers, provide opportunities and set up a development system that is at least competitive and interesting given the divisional rival aspect.

It might not replace NFL Europe in terms of effectiveness but it might be more sustainable and provide a similar showcasing opportunity.

Isn’t something like this worth a shot?

This is a guest post by Curtis Allen…

The Quarterback position is an ever-moving carousel.  What seems stable today can quickly be disrupted tomorrow.  Fail to develop a prospect in the pipeline and you leave yourself scrambling for options in a rough market.  With that in mind, the Seahawks drafted Jalen Milroe last year.

I wanted to talk about his progress and what needs to happen for him to take the next step in his NFL career.

The Experiment

Milroe was drafted at pick #92 in the third-round with the pick acquired from Las Vegas in the Geno Smith trade.

Rob’s immediate thoughts after the draft on him:

There’s no doubt Milroe needs major technical work as a passer. His short and intermediate accuracy is all over the place at times and based on his Alabama tape, you’ll not trust him to throw for a key third down conversion based on his current playing level. However, his upside is tantalizing and if you can improve these aspects of his game you could end up with a genuine diamond. His running ability is akin to watching a Formula 1 racing car snaking around a circuit. His ability to turn corners and accelerate is rare. He will constantly give opponents headaches with his running ability. Aside from that, he does have a genuine cannon for an arm. He made some excellent deep throws and he’ll keep opponents honest downfield, which also brings his legs more into play. They can use him as a weapon immediately as he learns how to be a better signal caller.

He lived up to that report in person.  The speed was hard to grasp.  He did not appear to be moving with great exertion but was gliding through lanes with little wasted motion.

The arm strength generated excitement as well.  From a pure talent standpoint, he has the arm strength to handle any play call the coaches send in.  I personally witnessed him in camp throwing a bomb from midfield under duress – flat-footed – with enough force to keep the ball away from the defender and enough loft for the receiver to get under it.  It was impressive.

However, his mechanics, game management and decision-making kept him locked in the third spot.  Accuracy was a real challenge, particularly for the critical 5-7 yard throws the offense runs so often.  Days in practice when he did not alternate between a beautiful play and an ugly play were hard to come by.

Using him as a package player during the regular season did not work well either.  He gained four yards in three plays and had a fumble in the Tampa Bay game that the Bucs took advantage of for a touchdown on the ensuing drive.  It was early enough that the Seahawks had time to recover, but they ultimately fell short by three points.

What started out as a lottery ticket pick that might provide exciting gains right out of the gate quickly came back to earth.  He did not see the field for the rest of the season.

By no means should he be written off.  The reason John Schneider made the pick was to develop a player behind Sam Darnold, without the pressure of him immediately being the backup.  Last year that was accomplished, albeit without any of the on-field benefits that we hoped would come with that.

But What About This Year?

Taking that into consideration, Milroe needs to step his game up this season.  Showing measurable progress will greatly increase his chances of becoming a starting Quarterback someday.

Milroe has had a whole calendar year to work with the coaches and tune his mechanics.  A significant improvement is a reasonable expectation.  No, not as much as challenging Sam Darnold for the starting job.  Of course not.  But pushing Drew Lock hard for the backup job is an achievable goal given his talent and the resources he has available to him.

The mechanics should be far sounder.  Accuracy should be improved to a more acceptable level.

If those improvements are in place, Milroe can then take the next step and focus on keeping the offense on time and making good decisions with the play calls and protections he is given.

How will we know he is progressing?  Listening closely to Mike Macdonald and Brian Fleury at press conferences will give us clues.  Primarily though, actions speak louder than words.  If Milroe starts getting scrimmage reps with the backups, even in rotation with Lock, that will be a nice sign.  The Seahawks might occasionally push him with these kinds of reps this year to see the real-world benefit of his offseason work.  He should also get plenty of reps in the preseason games.

What about the package plays?  It is highly unlikely that we (or the press) will be allowed to see them in practice.  But do not be surprised if they are part of the offense.

The extent may depend on Milroe.  If he has done the work – ‘eaten his vegetables’ so to speak by becoming less of a passer and more of a Quarterback – the coaches will have much more trust to put him into real game situations.  The confidence gained by a grinding offseason of work could be substantial and unlock some of those field-tilting plays we saw in college.

Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen can turn the game upside down with their incredible legs and their arm talent.  But the game only exists to be turned upside down in those moments because they can regularly complete the quick slants or short outbreaking routes that require precise timing and the mechanics to execute them regularly.

Mentioning Milroe in the same sentence as those two legends is lofty talk.  The only way he can get remotely close to their level is by receiving coaching and dramatically improving his craft with application.

Early reports on him from some present at the VMAC this offseason have not been very positive.  To that I would say: just remember, it is still early.  Last year some were very down on Sam Darnold early on.  Some even hinted that Milroe might challenge him for the starting job, drawing comparisons to the Russell Wilson and Matt Flynn situation in 2012.

How did that work out?

A little patience is required, particularly with a young talented player at the game’s toughest position, who by comparison did not cost very much to acquire.

I have every faith that Milroe will put in the work.  Raised by parents who were in the military, the charmed, comfortable life that many top football prospects have was not his.  I have seen him in camp taking every opportunity to keep working with coaches and taking nothing for granted.

Bringing repetition to his motions and processing will benefit him greatly.  If he gets to a point where much of his process is instinctual rather than thought-driven, he will succeed.

Milroe’s floor is somewhere near where Joe Milton is at.  Flashing extraordinary talent but severely lacking in polish.  Milton was traded to Dallas after his rookie season for a swap of late round draft picks and is currently competing with old friend Sam Howell to back up Dak Prescott.

His ceiling is somewhere near what Malik Willis is today, a player who came into the NFL very much a Work in Progress but has harnessed his talent and produced to the point another organization is willing to guarantee $45 million to him.

John Schneider and the staff will diagnose where Milroe is on that scale this offseason.

Making sure the team is prepared for 2027 is on the agenda right now for the General Manager, Scouting and Pro Personnel Development staff.  And no position requires more field work and preparation than Quarterback.

To that end, they will be heavily scouting College Football this fall.  With a projected twelve draft picks and a potentially deep Quarterback draft, the future of the position behind Sam Darnold is coming quickly.  Do not be surprised to hear reports that Schneider and/or the scouts are present at games to look at eligible Quarterbacks this fall.

That is not to say with surety that Milroe will be cut or traded next year if he does not demonstrate improvement in an easily discernable way.  In fact, the team might decide to keep all of their options open in 2027:  extend Drew Lock, consider Milroe ready to take the leap with yet another year and offseason of development, and perhaps even draft another project and let them all battle for the spots.

But he has the talent and work ethic to render this discussion moot.  Doing it this season would check a big box and allow the team to focus their resources on other positions.

We are about to find out if he can do just that.