5 Seahawks that need to step up their game heading into a contract year

Seahawks quarterback Drew Lock

Lock, like Collier, has a one-year chance to prove he is worthy of being a fixture in the NFL. He probably could be a backup for a few years but if he can’t beat out Geno Smith to be the Seahawks starter in 2022 then he is in trouble. No offense to Smith, but Lock is younger and even more physically talented. Teams might question Lock’s mental ability to pick up schemes quickly enough if he isn’t a starter in Week 1.

This means Seattle also shouldn’t keep Lock employed past 2022 if he can’t earn the starting gig. Because if he can’t, what’s the point? Seattle should just keep Geno Smith around for another year and have him hold down court as the Seahawks groom whomever they choose in the 2023 NFL draft.

But if Lock can show 12s and Seahawks management that he is every bit as good as they hoped he could be based in the five final games of the Broncos 2019 season then Lock could be the starter in Seattle for at least two more years.

But this starts with him being The Guy in Week 1. Whether Lock starts immediately or not will truly show how much faith Pete Carroll has in Lock.