6 quarterbacks who could be the Seahawks starting quarterback in 2025
By Lee Vowell
The Seattle Seahawks are obviously a team in transition and that could last past this year as well. The best-case scenario is that new head coach Mike Macdonald revamps the defense quickly and with less stress on the offense, the overall effect is that the team gets 10 or 11 wins and is a threat in the playoffs.
The worst-case is that Macdonald doesn't have the defensive players he needs and Seattle wins six games.
If the worst-case situation does happen then Seattle needs to make a lot of tough decisions next offseason and do more of a true rebuild. This would begin with the quarterback position. Geno Smith might have a quality 2024 but if the team fails, Seattle management will take a look at Smith's age - he will turn 35 during the 2025 season - and think a longer-term option might be the right move.
6 quarterbacks who could be the Seahawks' starting quarterback in 2025
Even if the Seahawks go 9-8 again, a new quarterback might be an option in 2025. Again, Smith isn't getting younger. He has not been the problem the team has not been a dangerous threat - the defense has - but as the quarterback position is the most important in sports, the spot will always get more attention than anything else.
Sam Howell
Howell is an interesting figure entering 2024 because the expectation is that he will be a backup. If he is anything but that then a number of things might have occurred. One is that Seattle is not having a good season and a quarterback change is made to see how much Howell could affect the near future. He is an inexpensive starting option in 2025 as he will only get paid a bit over $1 million.
The quarterback does have a year of starting experience in the NFL, however. If he gets QB1 reps, he will not do so as a newbie who is still trying to find his way. He could come in for presumed starting quarterback Geno Smith and be immediately effective. That does not mean he is so good that he gets general manager John Schneider thinking that Howell might be a championship-level quarterback.
Of course, one possibility is that Howell does replace Smith because Smith is injured or ineffective and then Howell simply completely balls out. If that happens, he should be the starter in 2025. He is signed through that season and should he be good again next season, he might be Seattle's QB1 for years. Otherwise, he would be a fill-in for whoever Seattle finds in the 2025 NFL draft.
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