Vincent Frank
The Seattle Seahawks are one of the most intriguing teams heading into Thursday’s NFL Draft. They boast two first-round picks (fifth and 20th overall), the former acquired in last off-season’s blockbuster trade of Russell Wilson to the Denver Broncos.
Head coach Pete Carroll and Co. have been linked primarily to defensive linemen with the fifth pick in the draft, including embattled former Georgia star Jalen Carter.
However, Seattle has not ruled out going quarterback at five despite signing reigning NFL Comeback Player of the Year Geno Smith to a three-year, $75 million contract extension ahead of free agency.
Seattle made it clear that the team visited with the likes of Bryce Young, C.J. Stroud, Will Levis and Anthony Richardson prior to the draft.
According to this note from NFL Media’s Bridget Condon, several people within the Seahawks’ organization believe that they are comfortable with multiple quarterback options at No. 5 overall.
We can assume for a second that Young is headed to the Carolina Panthers with the first pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. After that, it’s pretty much a guessing game.
Condon did speak with Seahawks general manager John Schneider and indicated in her report that he believes this is the most wide-open draft he can remember. The front office head also responded to a question about how confident he is that his guy will be on the board by saying “not very confident.”
Related: 2023 Seattle Seahawks mock draft
Smith’s new deal called for just $27.3 million fully guaranteed at signing. Seattle can actually get out from his contract following the 2023 season while saving nearly $14 million against the cap. It did not commit long-term to the former journeyman quarterback despite what the initial numbers might have said.
This makes it a stronger probability that the Seattle Seahawks will look quarterback at five. However, it’s all about how the board goes ahead of their selection.
We anticipate that the Houston Texans, selecting No. 2 overall, are going to pass on a quarterback for an edge rusher. Unless the Arizona Cardinals trade out of the third spot, they are not going to be adding a signal caller to the mix.
In this scenario, the Indianapolis Colts will be able to choose between Stroud, Richardson and Levis at four. It would give Seattle a pick between two of those high-end prospects with the fifth selection if the team opts to go in that direction.
Right now, it appears that Stroud’s stock of falling after some questionable test scores in the pre-draft process. Whether that impacts the Seattle Seahawks’ decision-making process remains to be seen. But they are a true wild card with the 2023 NFL Draft roughly 24 hours out.
