Seahawks may have tipped 2024 NFL draft plans by something they didn't do free agency

The Seattle Seahawks did not start the 2024 free agency period overly aggressive. This is not all that shocking as since general manager John Schneider came to Seattle in 2010 the team has not normally spent a lot of money on day one or two of free agency. 2023 was a little different as Seattle signed defensive lineman Dre'Mont Jones but as Jones was not very good this past season, maybe Schneider decided to revert back to his old ways.

Seattle did choose to sign two of its own free agents on day one, however. The team is bringing back defensive lineman Leonard Williams and tight end Noah Fant. Seattle watched several free agents leave, however, including tight ends Will Dissly and Colby Parkinson, and linebacker Jordyn Brooks.

But one decision that Schneider and the rest of the front office did not make might imply what the Seahawks' plan is for the 2024 NFL draft. Before free agency began, Seattle re-worked quarterback Geno Smith's current contract and transitioned his roster bonus to a signing bonus. This basically guaranteed Smithg would be on the team next season.

Seattle Seahawks could be looking to take a quarterback with their first pick in the 2024 NFL draft

Seattle did not bring back backup quarterback Drew Lock, though. The Seahawks now only have Smith on the roster as a proven and veteran QB in 2024 so they will need to find his backup one way or another. They could sign a free agent quarterback such as Tyler Huntley, but as Lock signed for only one year and $5 million, signing Huntley to around the same amount does not make any sense.

This offseason, Schneider said he was not proud of the fact that in the last 14 drafts, Seattle has only chosen two quarterbacks. One was Russell Wilson in the third round of the 2012 draft and the other was Alex McGough in the seventh round of the 2018 draft. Based on that, Seattle chooses a quarterback every six years and we are now six years on from 2018.

But quite possibly, as Seattle let Lock go for relatively very little money and Schneider's "not proud of" comment, Seattle plans to take a quarterback first in the 2024 draft. If that is the case, anything is possible with the Seahawks' draft. Seattle could try to trade up and trade places with a less-quarterback-needy team of which there are several, such as the Atlanta Falcons, Arizona Cardinals, and Los Angeles Chargers. Or Seattle could still trade back and grab a quarterback and potentially pick up a second-round choice as well.

If Seattle does move back they might intend to take Michael Penix, Jr. who might be available in the second round. Penix has an electric arm, but a long injury history and not a lot of athleticism. But he played at the University of Washington under new Seattle offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb so Penix might be the reason Seattle chose not to re-sign Drew Lock.

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