Tag Archives: Drew Lock

Trade talk: Howell, Woolen — who else?

When the Seahawks brought back Drew Lock last Friday, the first thought that came to mind was: Whither Sam Howell?

With Lock reportedly signed to a two-year deal, it sure seems to put Howell on the trade block.

The Hawks acquired Howell in a pick swap last year, getting a fourth and sixth while giving up a third and fifth. It was not a bad price to pay (equivalent of a fourth-rounder) for a look at a guy who had started a full season in the NFL and might be a possible long-term QB.

But Howell was no competition for Geno Smith and showed very poorly in clearly trying circumstances against the Packers late in the season.

John Schneider had said he looked forward to seeing Howell in Klint Kubiak’s offense because Ryan Grubb’s offense “wasn’t a good setup for him.” But now here comes Lock back, and he seems like as good a fit or better as the backup in Kubiak’s offense, which includes plenty of rollouts and bootlegs.

Continue reading Trade talk: Howell, Woolen — who else?

Smith reportedly won’t be traded, but will Schneider draft a quarterback?

John Schneider apparently did not find much trade interest in Geno Smith at the Combine – at least that’s the conclusion we are drawing from a report that the Seahawks have told Smith he will be on the roster in 2024.

Per NFL insider Jordan Schultz, “The Seahawks have informed Geno Smith he will be on the roster in 2024 under his current contract. I’m told Smith has received commitment from Seattle’s front office.”

That is something that had seemed in doubt this week as both Mike Macdonald and Schneider had indicated no firm commitment to the 33-year-old quarterback.

But, based on the Schultz report, Smith seems set to start for a third season in Seattle. That doesn’t preclude the Hawks from making other moves at the position, of course.

Continue reading Smith reportedly won’t be traded, but will Schneider draft a quarterback?

Is a Geno trade coming?

Geno Smith is still the Seahawks’ quarterback, but there certainly are signs that he might not be for a whole lot longer – if John Schneider gets a trade offer he likes.

It was no surprise Smith was still on the roster as of Feb. 16, which triggered the guarantee on his $12.7 million salary. That means he will be Seattle’s QB in 2024 — unless another team trades for him.

Where does this trade talk come from all of a sudden? Directly: From Adam Schefter. Indirectly: From Mike Macdonald and new OC Ryan Grubb.

Continue reading Is a Geno trade coming?

It’s hard for Hawks to find wins, so final three games are no gimmes

For all of the Seahawks’ flaws, there apparently is only one NFC team they cannot beat – or at least come close to beating.

Pete Carroll surely would like another chance to face the 49ers, but the only way to do it is to make the playoffs, which will require an unlikely four-game winning streak to end the season — or else some help from other teams losing.

Everyone, especially Carroll, was giddy about Seattle’s last-minute win over the Philadelphia Eagles last Monday – a win that not only ended a four-game slide but boosted the Seahawks’ playoff hopes.

The win over an NFC team gave them a little more pull in the tiebreakers, but they still have to win their final three or get some help from teams playing Minnesota, Los Angeles and/or New Orleans.  

Continue reading It’s hard for Hawks to find wins, so final three games are no gimmes

Blowout didn’t change anything: Hawks still a borderline one-and-out playoff team

The Seahawks never seemed like a Super Bowl contender throughout the first half of the season – they never even put together a complete game in a 5-2 start — and their 37-3 blowout loss to Baltimore in Week 9 proved it. There’s no Super Bowl in this team, even if John Schneider’s big deadline trade seemed to say the Hawks thought they had a chance.

The Baltimore debacle was a total team failure, from coaching to QB play to OL play to a million missed tackles on defense. As Jordyn Brooks said, they just did not come ready to play.

The Hawks are neither as good as their 5-2 record made some think nor as bad as this nightmare 34-point defeat would seem to indicate. They are still what we thought they were: a borderline one-and-done playoff team.

Continue reading Blowout didn’t change anything: Hawks still a borderline one-and-out playoff team

Hawks full of (good) surprises in first week of free agency

John Schneider and Pete Carroll were not kidding when they declared they were going to get better on the defensive line this offseason.

They surprised everyone by breaking out of their frugal free agency routine when they gave Dre Jones the biggest deal they have ever given an outside free agent: $17 million per year over three years. It was a stunningly aggressive start to what has been a surprising free agency period in several ways.

Jarran Reed unexpectedly returned. The Hawks got a good veteran center for much cheaper than expected. Linebackers went fast, but the Hawks added Devin Bush — and Bobby Wagner remained unsigned through this publish, giving Quandre Diggs and many fans hope that he might yet return. The Hawks also added a good starting safety at a bargain, creating all kinds of questions and possibilities at that position.

Continue reading Hawks full of (good) surprises in first week of free agency

Just how many games can the Seahawks win?

As the Seahawks prepare to start a season without Russell Wilson for the first time in 11 years, they are not expected to win more than four or five games.

In the Wilson years, the Hawks would have been favored to beat Denver, Atlanta, Detroit, Las Vegas, Carolina and the Giants and Jets while splitting their division games. That would equal 10 wins, with New Orleans, Tampa Bay, the Los Angeles Chargers and Kansas City the wild cards.

With no dependable quarterback, though, the Hawks currently are favored against only the Falcons, Panthers and the New York teams. Vegas has the over/under at 5.5 wins. The combined career winning percentage of Geno Smith and Drew Lock is .382, which would translate to six wins.

Is that really the best this team will be able to manage without Wilson?  

It all depends on the running game, special teams, takeaways — and more takeaways. And probably putting Lock at QB.

Continue reading Just how many games can the Seahawks win?

Even with Lock sick, Geno can’t claim QB1

Drew Lock still has a shot at Seattle’s starting quarterback position. So perhaps does Jimmy Garoppolo.

With Lock unable to start Thursday because of Covid-19, Geno Smith had his chance to lock down the position – and he didn’t do it.

In a terribly messy 27-11 preseason home loss to Chicago, Smith failed to lead Seattle to any points in the first half. The Hawks punted five times and missed a field goal off Smith’s drives. He hit just 10 of 18 passes for 118 yards – with 41 coming on a pass to Penny Hart. It was just the latest struggle for Smith to get his offense into the end zone (he also didn’t have a lot of help from a line that committed too many penalties and lost Damien Lewis to an ankle injury).

Continue reading Even with Lock sick, Geno can’t claim QB1

First game shows Drew Lock’s upside

In the first game of the post-Wilson era, Drew Lock showed he probably will end up the starting quarterback and the Seahawks’ top rookies all showed early evidence that they will live up to the promise of draft day.

We think the Hawks could win eight or nine games, depending on the quarterback play, and the rest of the team sure seems capable of backing that projection.

Now we just need to see what Lock can do against starting defenses.

In a 32-25 loss in Pittsburgh, Lock showed more arm strength, zip, mobility and decisiveness than Geno Smith. Yes, he was facing the Steelers’ reserve defenders and lost the ball on a blitz sack late in the game, but he clearly looked like the more explosive quarterback.

Continue reading First game shows Drew Lock’s upside

Hawks still looking, but Waldron breaks down Lock’s positives

Pete Carroll recently told KJR that the Seahawks did not draft a QB because they considered Drew Lock, a 2019 second-round pick, to be better than every rookie passer.

Carroll also said the Hawks will not trade for a veteran QB at this point, but he and John Schneider also said they will “keep looking” for possible upgrades at QB.

Meanwhile, as Lock and Geno Smith begin their QB competition during Seattle’s OTAs, Shane Waldron broke down some film on Lock from his Denver days.

Continue reading Hawks still looking, but Waldron breaks down Lock’s positives