Making the case for Gardner Minshew as the Seahawks QB of the future

Verdict

The idea of Seattle bringing Gardner Minshew back to the Pacific Northwest is fun and full of possibilities. So in this universe, here’s how I could see it playing out with Minshew Mania in the Navy and Green.

Best case scenario

Seattle decides to bite the bullet this season, letting Geno Smith and Drew Lock take turns leading the Seahawks to a 6-11 season, good for the seventh pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, along with the 20th pick from Denver.

After locking up DK Metcalf to an extension, Seattle signs Gardner Minshew to be their starting quarterback. With the money saved by not signing the huge Russell Wilson extension, Seattle is able to outbid the suddenly cap-strapped Denver Broncos for pass rusher Bradley Chubb.

With the addition of a premier pass rusher and the talent added with four top 65 picks, the Seahawks and Minshew are loaded with youth and talent to become a rising contender for the next few years, just as the Rams’ run is ending.

Under Minshew, Seattle is getting a modern-day version of prime Matt Hasselbeck. With solid quarterback play, and a deep and talented team, Seattle wins the NFC West the next two seasons while reaching the Super Bowl 58 in Las Vegas in 2024.

Worst case scenario

Seattle goes all-in on Gardner Minshew…and they’re wrong. Seattle trades a 3rd round pick to Philadelphia for Minshew and sign him to an extension immediately.

While Minshew isn’t bad, he’s not much better than what we saw last year from Geno Lock. Seattle finishes 7-10 yet again and are out of the tier one rookie QBs that will go in the top 5-7 picks. Worse yet, DK Metcalf doesn’t believe in Minshew and decides he’s tired of this and wants out. Seattle is worse off than they were a year ago, and now look to 2024 to find their true franchise QB.

Verdict

No one is going to try and sell you on Minshew being in the upper elite of QBs. I do think that he has proven to be moderately successful in some of the worst and most difficult situations. I’m fascinated to see him get a chance but in the right environment. You can make a case that logic goes for every QB minus the Hall of Famers, but I truly think there’s something more there with Minshew.

We saw it at Washington State, we saw it briefly in Jacksonville, and we saw it for a game last year in Philly. The dude can play, and I think he’s the right fit for Seattle. His floor is very similar to Jimmy G and Baker’s floor, and I’m fascinated to see what his ceiling looks like. He can be a legitimate franchise QB if he ends up in Seattle.