About those Mark Sanchez rumors…..

The Seattle Seahawks seem content to enter the season with an undrafted rookie QB to back up Russell Wilson, but does the availability of Mark Sanchez change that?

Once again Mark Sanchez is available, and once again the speculation has begun that he’d be a good fit for the Seattle Seahawks.

Sanchez was acquired by the Denver Broncos this offseason, presumably to take over for the retired Peyton Manning and keep the seat warm for rookie first round pick Paxton Lynch. But then Trevor Siemien happened.

Siemien is a little-known 2nd year player out of Northwestern who was announced as the opening day starter by Broncos head coach Gary Kubiak yesterday. And so it would appear that Sanchez’s short stay in Denver is about to be over.

If you recall, Sanchez played his college football for then USC head coach Pete Carroll. Carroll infamously slammed Sanchez for declaring early for the draft in 2009, and there were reports of a rift between the two as a result. But since then the two have patched things up.

Could this be the appropriate time for a reunion?

A publication called the Gospel Herald ran a story with the headline proclaiming “Seattle Seahawks Hint At Mark Sanchez Trade; Russell Wilson, Kam Chancellor Want QB.” The story then goes on to say nothing about a Seahawks “hint” nor any attributed comments from Wilson or Chancellor.

Still, it’s a natural connection to draw given the Sahchez-Carroll relationship and the Seahawks apparent need for a veteran backup QB.

Trevone Boykin has performed well this preseason since being signed as an undrafted free agent out of TCU, and Russell Wilson has yet to miss a game in his NFL career. But in the event of a Wilson injury, is the team willing to place their Super Bowl aspirations in the hands of an inexperienced rookie?

Sanchez appears ticketed for a career as a backup now after failed stings starting with the NY Jets, Philadelphia Eagles and now the Broncos. When on the field he’s been shown to produce big yardage number….and turnovers. He’s thrown 84 interceptions in his pro career to go along with his 86 TD passes.

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But Sanchez is experienced, and has been known to be a good teammate. And now he’s available. If the Seahawks were to trade for him, they would have to absorb a $4.5 million cap hit. That would seem unlikely as they have just a little over $6 million available at the moment according to spotrac.com. 

It’s more likely that he’ll be released by the Broncos, possibly as early as tomorrow when teams are required to pare their rosters to 75 players. At that point the Seahawks could negotiate a deal with a smaller up front cap hit.

If it were to happen, it looks like a move that would be unpopular with Seahawks fans.

This may come down to the teams willingness to carry three quarterbacks. Boykin has played so well the preseason that sliding him through waivers to the practice squad appears unlikely.

Next: Seahawks to cut Brandon Browner

Or it’s all just nothing more than casual dot-connecting. Pete Carroll and John Schneider have shown no fear in trusting rookies (see Wilson, Russell) and may just be willing to ride with Boykin behind Wilson to start the 2016 season.