Jimmy Garoppolo might still be the answer for Seahawks in 2022

The Seahawks still haven’t made a decision to start at quarterback for Week 1. Neither option looks good. Jimmy Garoppolo could still be the answer for Seattle.

The question the Seahawks should be asking themselves, and maybe 12s too, is why not add Garoppolo once he is released by the San Francisco 49ers? Does he give Seattle a better chance to win than Geno Smith or Drew Lock? Yes.

Does adding Garoppolo make Seattle into a playoff team? Nope. But why should Seattle waste an entire season in possible hopes of drafting a quarterback in the 2023 NFL draft that may or may not work out? Maybe Garoppolo isn’t the long-term answer, but that’s not the point.

There is simply nothing wrong with taking a chance on Garoppolo. He will be released by the San Francisco 49ers and before Week 1.

Seahawks should still look at signing Jimmy Garoppolo after he is released

The 49ers have no reason to keep him as Trey Lance is their current and future at quarterback. Plus, if they don’t release him before the season starts then the 49ers are going to have to eat about $27 million. They aren’t going to do that; No team would or should. And San Francisco saves $24 million when they eventually do release Garoppolo.

The Seahawks currently have about $15 million in cap room – 11th in the NFL and none of the teams above Seattle need a quarterback. All that cap space won’t be taken up by a Garoppolo signing either. He is likely going to have to take a one-year flyer with any team that signs him.

(I realize the Browns have a quarterback who will be suspended for 11 games but adding Garoppolo still doesn’t much sense for them since they have Jacoby Brissett already and Deshaun Watson will be back in 2022.)

Seattle, however, should offer him an incentive-laden two-year deal. If Garoppolo comes in and performs well, great. The Seahawks would have him for another season and even if the team does draft a QB high in the 2023 draft, Garoppolo, as he did in San Francisco, could allow the rookie to learn for a year.

And that is a worst-case scenario.

After all, between Garoppolo (98.9 career quarterback rating and 67.7 percent completion percentage), Lock (79.3 and 59.3, respectively) and Smith (75.7 and 58.8, respectively), there is no question who the better quarterback is. It is Garoppolo. Seattle may not be a Super Bowl team with Jimmy G, but they would be a lot better with him than Smith or Lock.

And if there is a question about what does it matter if the Seahawks win 5 games with Smith or Lock compared to 7 or 8 with Garoppolo? My answer is simple. I am a Seahawks fan and I simply want them to win football games. If Garoppolo means more wins than Smith or Lock, I am all for it.