The Seattle Seahawks extended quarterback Geno Smith early last month, but his new contract hasn’t been enough to quiet down rumors about the team potentially drafting a quarterback.
Seattle holds the No. 5 and No. 20 selections in the Apr. 27-29 draft, the former courtesy of the Denver Broncos from the Russell Wilson trade. So GM John Schneider is in good position to take a top quarterback prospect if he wants to go that route.
According to Tony Pauline of Pro Football Network, there’s a belief among insiders that the Seahawks will try to move into the No.3 spot (owned by the NFC West rival Arizona Cardinals) to take Florida Gators’ quarterback Anthony Richardson:
“Speculation from league insiders during Florida’s pro day is the Seattle Seahawks could be the team that leapfrogs the Indianapolis Colts and trades up with the Arizona Cardinals to secure Richardson. Several reasons were given.
The cost to move up won’t be much for the Seahawks, who have another first-round pick — the 20th selection.
Additionally, the general manager and coach who draft Richardson have to be on safe footing. Even Russell Wilson couldn’t get Pete Carroll and John Schneider fired. Finally, Richardson is the type of freaky athlete that the Seahawks have drafted in the past and had success with — think Tariq Woolen and DK Metcalf.”
Richardson dazzled with an impressive performance at the NFL Combine. Richardson ran a 40-yard dash of 4.43 seconds, and his 40.5-inch vertical jump set a record for quarterbacks.
Smith was handed a three-year contract extension worth $105 million, so the Seahawks could spend a year or two developing Richardson while continuing with the Comeback Player of the Year for the time being.
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The Carolina Panthers traded up via the Chicago Bears for the top selection in the draft, and they’re widely expected to take either Alabama’s Bryce Young or Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud. The Houston Texans, who own the No. 2 pick, will presumably take whichever quarterback remains after Carolina’s pick.
Arizona already has a long-term starting quarterback in Kyler Murray, so it wouldn’t be a surprise if they opted to deal the No. 3 selection to another team. Could that club be the Seahawks? Stay tuned.
