Tracking the QBs the Seahawks should take in the 2023 NFL draft: Week 8
Seahawks 2023 QB targets: Numbers 8 through 6
Number 8: Dillon Gabriel
NFL Comp: Tua Tagovailoa
The first quarterback on our list that was on a bye, Gabriel and the Oklahoma Sooners still have a chance to make this season a success. Sitting at 4-3, the Sooners and a Gabriel-led offense should be favored in 4 of their final 5 games, with a massive home battle still ahead with top 10 ranked rival Oklahoma State.
A trip to the Big 12 Championship is all but gone, but there is still a path where this squad catches fire and finishes third in the conference. A 9-3 regular season likely puts the Sooners back in the top 20 and in a bigger bowl. I want to see the Sooners in a bigger bowl so that we can see how Gabriel performs in bigger moments.
When accurate and healthy, I still believe there is real talent here, and Gabriel could play at the next level.
Number 7: KJ Jefferson
NFL Comp: Jacoby Brissett
Our second quarterback on a bye this week was KJ Jefferson. After a week of rest and getting back to full health, Jefferson and the Razorbacks will head to Auburn, before a fun and difficult three-game stretch. A home date with the 7-1 Liberty Flames that just wrecked Jaden Hall, then two more home SEC battles against LSU and Ole Miss. Both of those programs are littered with NFL talent and are looking to make a New Year’s Six bowl. Jefferson can not play spoiler but continues to raise his draft stock with a good showing.
I continue to view Jefferson as a perfect backup option for the “Keep Geno” crowd. A young and potentially dynamic QB that can be unstoppable in short-yardage packages.
Number 6: Michael Penix Jr.
NFL Comp: Geno Smith
It wasn’t pretty for the Washington Huskies, but they’ll take the 28-21 win over the California Golden Bears. With virtually no running game this season, the weight of the offense is consistently put on Penix’s shoulders, and he delivered. The Husky QB threw for 374 yards on 36 of 51 passing and two massive fourth quarter touchdowns.
The Huskies are 6-2, and I believe they might be 2-6 if Penix wasn’t leading this offense. Penix has truly been fantastic in 7 of 8 games. I have questions about his durability, but Penix has shown enough flashes that I can see him getting drafted in the 2nd or 3rd round of the draft. With the right time and patience, Penix can have some success at the next level.