Three viable quarterback options for the Seattle Seahawks in Week 1 of 2024

Option No. 3: Drafting a franchise QB

As it currently stands, the Seattle Seahawks hold the 15th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. That can certainly change, either better or worse, depending on what happens in the final weekend of the regular season. Nonetheless, Seattle will be in a position to select a quarterback if they want to in the first round.

While Pete Carroll and John Schneider have never drafted a quarterback in the 1st round, they have been known to always keep an eye on incoming quarterbacks. With that said it would be reasonable to believe that they will have all hands on deck in evaluating the incoming class. Realistically, Caleb Williams and Drake Maye are out of the picture unless Seattle were to trade up into the top 5, which is not going to happen.

Even the Heisman winner, Jayden Daniels, will be a stretch if the Seahawks were to pick at #15 or higher. Of course, draft stocks are going to continually change based on what happens in the remainder of the college playoffs and pro-days/NFL combine. Both quarterbacks of the championship contending teams, J.J. McCarthy of Michigan and Michael Penix Jr. of Washington, very well might be available in the middle of the first round.

Throughout the draft season in 2023, I discussed how there was only one quarterback who fit what Seattle wanted to do. This year, I can apply the same theory to Michael Penix Jr. An older player coming out of college suffering two torn ACLs can raise cause for concern for many general managers. But, he's a perfect fit for what the Seahawks want to do. He has great poise in the pocket, is an explosive thrower of the football, and might have the best accuracy of any quarterback in this class.

Obstacle: Relying on a rookie to produce immediately

If the Seattle Seahawks were to select Michael Penix Jr., my guess is, they would move off Geno Smith and re-sign Drew Lock to another cheap contract. Given the age of Penix Jr., I think it would be wise for him to start in the NFL immediately. Knowing Pete Carroll and his coaching philosophy, I could see a quarterback competition take place between Lock and Penix Jr. with Penix Jr. ultimately winning the job.

However, history has shown rookie quarterbacks might be better suited to take the first year off and learn from a veteran. In that case, do the Seahawks retain Geno and allow him to mentor Penix Jr.? That could certainly work out given how much Penix Jr. can relate to Geno in their football journeys. I wouldn't necessarily be opposed to that.

But, I think Penix Jr. is the real deal and can come in and produce to the likes of C.J. Stroud and Joe Burrow. When getting drafted, it's not all about the talent you have. Most of the times, your success or failure is completely dependent on where you get drafted and how you fit. In Seattle, with those weapons on the outside and the ability to push the ball down the field accurately, I think Penix Jr. would be shooting a lot of arrows.

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