By: Andy Davies

It wasn’t supposed to be like this.

When the Denver Broncos fired head coach Vic Fangio, it was deemed that they were just a quarterback away from being contenders.

And then the Broncos made moves. Nathaniel Hackett was hired, after a spell as the Green Bay Packers offensive coordinator. Not long after that appointment, the team went big in their search for a new quarterback. They traded a 2022 and 2023 first-round and second-round pick as well as a fifth round from this year and gave away Drew Lock, Noah Fant and Shelby Harris in exchange for Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson and a fourth-round pick.

This was supposed to be the answer. However, so far it has been far from that.

The Broncos have lost their last two games and currently sit at 2-3 after their first five games with their new head coach and quarterback duo. Neither has set the world alight.

In five starts, Wilson has thrown for 1,254 yards, just four touchdowns and three interceptions. This would have projected to finish the season with 4,264 yards, 14 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Whilst those projected yards would actually be a career best, it would be an all-time career low in touchdown passes, six less than his current worst in 2014. He would only have four seasons with more interceptions than nine. 

Russell Wilson is said to have requested the trade, and many felt Pete Carroll’s run-first offense was holding him back. However, all Wilson has shown us in 2022 is that perhaps Carroll was doing this for a reason.

Against the Colts, Wilson threw an awful interception and despite having 274 passing yards, he threw for zero touchdowns and two interceptions. With the exception of one great run and one great pass, Russ had no moments of excellence. He was incapable of getting it done in the red zone, seemed to force his passes to his target men, and often missed several open receivers.

Hackett came in as an offensive guy, one that worked with the current back-to-back MVP. Russ was meant to be allowed to cook, presumably one of the reasons if not the main one for Wilson agreeing to join the Broncos. With Jerry Jeudy, Courtland Sutton, and Tim Patrick, he was not short of receiving options. Patrick may have suffered a season-ending injury prior to Week One, but the team still has K.J. Hamler and Albert Okwuegbunam.

His ability to just throw it without properly looking through his reads may have been disguised in recent years due to D.K. Metcalf being the closest thing to Calvin Johnson we have seen since the Hall of Famer retired. Neither Jeudy, Sutton and Hamler have the strength and hands of Metcalf. 

Hackett deserves some portion of the blame, with his questionable play calling and poor time management. He could well be one and done as a head coach for the Broncos. His time so far reminiscent of Adam Gase, a star quarterback glossing over coaching deficiencies. However, he is not the one out there missing open players, making bad throws, and seeming scared to get hit. So far, Wilson looks to have made no difference. With the number of draft picks given up and the long term multi-million-dollar extension given to him, this trade so far looks to be one the team may regret.

Let’s not forget that Wilson still has to play the Chargers and Chiefs each twice.

Granted, a new head coach who actually knows what they are doing may be the difference they need and not every quarterback can do what Tom Brady and Matthew Stafford did on new teams.

Despite this, should Wilson play like this for the rest of 2022 and beyond this trade could be one that potentially affects the team long-term.

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By: Jake Rajala

It may seem like the seven trumpets are going off in Dallas after it was announced that Dak Prescott will miss 6-8 weeks. However, the Boys still have a plethora of talent on their roster & they could surely sneak into the playoffs with the right signal-caller. With that said, I’m going to untwine seven QBs that may be a logical fit for Dallas.

• Teddy Bridgewater

I would honestly love to see Teddy “two gloves” in a Cowboys uniform. The signal-caller that is coming off a 7-7 record last season can take care of the football and utilize the crisp route-running ability of Ceedee Lamb and Michael Gallup. I also don’t foresee the Phins retaining Bridgewater as a QB2 long-term, so it may be wise for Mike McDaniel to ship him out for a draft pick soon.

• Andy Dalton

The Cincinnati Bengals QB Andy Dalton, also known as the “Red Rifle”, still has the arm talent and a slice of the fountain of youth at 34 years old. Most importantly, Dalton played nine games with the reigning NFC East Champions in 2020. It would make a ton of sense for the Boys to bring him back if New Orleans was open to the offer.

• Cam Newton

The Panthers legend, Cam Newton, lost a chunk of his ability that led him to win MVP in 2016. Nonetheless, he could still be a threat with his rushing ability. I would want to see the Panthers ink Newton as 1B at QB. The NFL world witnessed Taysom Hill run angry for 81 yards and a touchdown on Sunday. It may be wise for the Boys to roll with a pure passing QB at 1A and sprinkle in Newton at 1B at QB.

• Gardner Minshew

Perhaps the Boys are desperate enough to get the Philadelphia Eagles to cough up the magic man, Gardner Minshew, in 2022. Minshew may be the most underrated backup QB in the league and it’s a shame that he hasn’t had a shot at a starting gig after many flashes of greatness in Jacksonville.

• Drew Lock

Geno Smith is pegged as the starting QB and the Hawks are likely a bit more interested in moving on from the Drew Lock experiment. He still has physical gifts, but he hasn’t quite found the right fit. Lamb and Gallup could make a lot of plays with the clean version of Lock.

• Sam Darnold

The former USC mythical QB, Sam Darnold, is the ultimate wildcard to land with the Boys in my opinion. Darnold has been in numerous agonizing situations in Adam Gase land & surrounded by an injured Christian McCaffrey. Yet, he has made impressive throws and taken care of the football at key times. He may be the best value pick-up for the Boys — assuming the Panthers don’t have a modest price tag on him.

• Tyrod Taylor

The electric Tyrod Taylor would be a safe bet for the Boys. Taylor, aka the 2015 Pro Bowler and near-starting QB for the Chargers (until a sad injury occurred to him from the medical staff) is still looking for his last break. The issue is: will the Giants be open to trading him to the Boys?

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By: Jake Rajala

Geno Smith is singing “Hope by Shaggy” – as he will be the starting quarterback for the Seattle Seahawks in Week 1! As widely enunciated, the former New York Jets signal-caller isn’t a stranger to leading the Hawks onto the field. Smith started against the New Orleans Saints, the Pittsburgh Steelers, and the Jacksonville Jaguars a season ago. He had a strong losing effort against the Steelers – as T.J. Watt (shocker) had a sack and forced fumble on him in OT. Smith gained more experience this off-season as the QB1 and he’s clearly antsy to prove his worth in Week 1 of 2022. With that said, I’m going to unfold the pros and cons of Smith starting.

Pros of Geno Smith starting

• He has familiarity with DK Metcalf

The Seahawks official starting QB in Week 1 truly has fine chemistry with his hulk-like wideout in DK Metcalf. He showed his ability to lock in with Metcalf against the Saints last season – where he launched a beautiful, 84-yard touchdown strike to Metcalf (who was supposed to be covered by Marshon Lattimore) on the play.

• He can take care of the football

Smith may have had a critical turnover against the Steelers (who showcase a greek god-like defender), but he only tossed a single interception a season ago. Meanwhile, Drew Lock (aka the QB that fell off a cliff in Denver) unveiled three interceptions in his latest pre-season debut.

• Accurate

Smith is honestly an accurate NFL QB – which was evident with his 68.4 cmp% last season. He can absolutely execute the ins and outs of the Hawks west-coast offense.

Cons of Geno Smith starting

• He doesn’t have a sexy ceiling

Smith may have arm talent, mobility, understanding of the Seahawks scheme, and a lot of confidence heading into 2022. Although, he doesn’t have the sexiest ceiling. I’m talking about a QB that hasn’t thrown more than 13 touchdowns in a single season. Furthermore, Smith doesn’t have a fountain of youth – as he is six years older than Drew Lock. I’m not convinced that he can revolt into a top-tier QB at this stage in his career.

• Injury issues

Smith filled in for the injured, mythical Russell Wilson last season. Let’s still not forget that Smith has had injury issues himself. His starting opportunity in his fourth season (2016) was eroded after he suffered a season-ending ACL tear. So, can Smith survive in 2022 and beyond behind the Hawks OL that was ranked as the 32nd best OL by PFF heading into the season?

• Short-term success

Smith can be a superb game manager for his beloved team, but I’m not confident in him transcending into a Pro Bowl-caliber QB in the Rainy city. The Carolina Panthers had a similar situation as Seattle prior to bringing in Baker Mayfield. The Hawks may not enjoy the most short-term success in the frigid NFC West with their fourth-ranked QB in their hyper-competitive division.

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By: Andy Davies

The NFC West was considered the elite division in the NFL as little as a year ago but things have progressed since, despite having the current Super Bowl champions in the Los Angeles Rams. 

Russell Wilson is no longer in the division, and no one quite knows who will be the QB1 in San Francisco. 

But who is the divisions best quarterback? Here are the rankings of the NFC West quarterbacks from best to worst.

Matthew Stafford (Los Angeles Rams)

What better place to start than with the QB1 of the Super Bowl Champions. Whilst Stafford was not the reason the Rams won Super Bowl 56 over the Cincinnati Bengals, with 3 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions, he was certainly the final piece of the jigsaw as the Rams hoisted the Lombardi Trophy for the first time since the 1999 season. 

The Rams were always contenders, making it all the way to Super Bowl 53, but there was always something missing at the quarterback position. Jared Goff did well but even he would admit he was probably not good enough to take the Rams where they needed.

He was traded to the Detroit Lions in exchange for Stafford and the rest is history. Stafford had reached the postseason on three previous occasions, but each time came up short at the first attempt. His lack of playoff wins was a factor pointed out by sceptics when he arrived but when the Rams made the playoffs, Stafford showed why the team gave up so much to get him. In four games, he threw for 1,188 yards, 9 touchdowns and 3 interceptions as well as having a 70% completion percentage (98 from 140).

In the regular season, Stafford also impressed. Only Tom Brady (43) threw for more touchdown passes (41), with Stafford throwing for the third-most passing yards (4,886). 

Stafford is clearly the choice for the number one spot on this list and it will take a lot for the other players in this list to catch him up.

Kyler Murray (Arizona Cardinals)

Murray’s future is unclear, with his fifth option exercised but no longer-term deal in place at time of writing. 

The 2019 first overall pick has shown signs of his potential but is yet to fulfil this on a consistent basis. In three seasons, he has thrown for 11,480 yards, 70 touchdowns and 34 interceptions, whilst also recording  1,786 rushing yards and 20 rushing touchdowns. 

A trend of Murray’s career so far is starting off the season well but tailing off down the stretch. He will need a big year to convince the Cardinals front office that he is the player moving forward. Either way, he still remains second on this list.

Jimmy Garoppolo (San Francisco 49ers)

When the 49ers lost to the Rams in the NFC Championship game back in January, it was seen by many to be the end of Jimmy G in San Francisco. However, he is still on the team.

Having missed OTA’s due to rehab on his shoulder,  he has yet to be traded. Say what you want about Jimmy G, but he wins games. Simple as that. Whilst he has never been the reason for the 49ers winning games, he is a very serviceable quarterback. With uncertainty over Lance after reports of the organisation being underwhelmed, Garoppolo is the right guy to be under centre for the 49ers in week one. 

Drew Lock/Geno Smith (Seattle Seahawks)

Whether it is Lock or Smith, there is no way they aren’t at the bottom of this list. Lock has a great start to life in the NFL, when he started for the Denver Broncos towards the end of the 2019 season, his 2020 and 2021 campaigns flattered to deceive. Meanwhile, Smith has been a backup for most of his career. Neither of these quarterbacks, whoever starts against the Broncos in week one, are likely to inspire confidence from fans or the Seattle coaching staff. 

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By: Jake Rajala

The Seattle Seahawks are one of the most polarizing NFL teams in OTAs. They will have a battle royale for the starting QB position – between the two young, rollercoaster quarterbacks in Drew Lock and Geno Smith. Their RB position is quite fascinating, as well. Per The Seattle Times, the Hawks are missing their top two veteran RBs at the moment in Rashaad Penny (minor hamstring injury) and Chris Carson (neck injury), so they’re leaning on a unique RB trio (DeeJay Dallas, Travis Holmer, and rookie Ken Walker) to handle the workload at the moment.

The Seahawks also witnessed Alfonso Smith leave for a position at the University of Miami. Per Field Gulls, he was the senior executive advisor for the Hawks and he opted to accept a position at Miami as an assistant in the Hurricanes athletic department. Smith is of course an alma mater of the U, as he was a RB stud for the Hurricanes.

The Seahawks may have some slight changes on their roster, but they will certainly strive to make magic happen with new faces this summer. According to Devin Csigi of Field Gulls, he forsees Tyreke Smith, Tariq Woolen, and Bo Melton being underrated players that could shine in 2022.

The Hawks will definitely need rookies to step up to the plate next season, but they will also really want Jamal Adams to return to his normal form. Adams set the single-season sack record for a safety in 2020, but he wasn’t able to provide success in any category last season. It would also help the Hawks defense if they could bring back Carlos Dunlap (8.5 sacks in 2021). If Dunlap doesn’t return, they will expect even more production from Uchenna Nwosu, who recorded 5 sacks a season ago.

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By: Jake Rajala

The Seattle Seahawks have two young, disappointing, and highly motivated quarterbacks fighting for the starting QB gig. Geno Smith and Drew Lock are making their bid to be QB1 and it’s been reported by New York Post that Smith is in the lead for the keys to the starting offense. With that enunciated, there is another QB option that is deemed available for the Seahawks: Baker Mayfield.

As reported by The Athletic, the Seahawks have a strong interest in Mayfield. I do believe that Mayfield may have more upside over Geno Smith and Drew Lock, but I am not convinced that he is the path that the Seahawks should pursue. With that said, here are three reasons why the Seahawks should not acquire Mayfield.

Asking price

The Browns don’t only want a second or third-round pick, but they also want his new squad to eat up a lot of his contract. The Seahawks don’t exactly have the luxury of having only two or three holes to fill on their roster. They could really benefit from using their resources to ink a new pass rusher, LB, and a couple of defensive backs in the 2023 and 2024 off-season. They struggled to build the team around Russell Wilson and it would be quite a challenge to purchase FA talent for Mayfield.

Long term fit

I really don’t believe Baker is the long-term answer for the Hawks. It feels like the Seahawks are trying to fight for scraps in the QB pool this off-season. If/when the Seahawks target a QB like Bryce Young in the 2023 draft, it’s safe to say that Mayfield would be a very expensive backup QB. They should prioritize a future QB beyond 2023 with their resources and “draft ammunition”.

Geno Smith

I actually like the ability that Geno Smith showed with the Seahawks offense last season. He kept the Hawks competitive in the rainy contest against the Saints and brought the Hawks to OT against the Steelers. It should also be noted that Smith was a modest game manager, despite not having an off-season of preparation with the starters. Smith had impressive connections with Metcalf and I trust them to continue to grow. It’s also unclear if Baker would properly utilize the Seahawks potent WR duo, as he wasn’t able to properly utilize OBJ and Jarvis Landry in the same offense.

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By: Girvane Bola

After a grim 2021 season that saw the Seahawks finish 7-10, they are undoubtedly the worst team in the NFC West. With star QB Russell Wilson leaving, it is evident that Pete Carroll’s team is in rebuild mode. But what must the ”˜Hawks overcome to rebuild successfully?

• Finding their franchise QB           

It is the most apparent issue that the Seahawks’ front office face. They need a quarterback that will make them competitive in the NFC West. The problem is that this is not an easy task. Unfortunately, history has shown that it is the hardest to attain. Franchise quarterbacks do not appear every year, and it might take years to find a viable option at the most prominent position.

Drew Lock is good but has been unable to revive his newcomer form over the past two seasons. There is a reason Denver selected Teddy Bridgewater over him as its starter last season. It is also hard to think that a change of environment will be enough to convert him into a star QB.

Now, Baker Mayfield could be the starting quarterback for the Seahawks. However, this is not the best option. The Cleveland Browns want no business with him and are stuck with him. Even if the Mayfield trade goes through, that could potentially see DK Metcalf go the other way and a second-round pick. It does not look valuable, and it should not be a trade the ”˜Hawks pursue.

The Seahawks may have to wait till the next draft class, where the QB class is superior to this year.

• Dead Cap Charges

Dead cap charges have crippled their ability to obtain the biggest stars in free agency. They now hold a $26 million cap charge for Wilson this year with an extra $18 million in dead cap. It has severely hampered their potential to make substantial free-agent moves this offseason outside of keeping most of their players, leaving them with less than $10 million in significant cap room to deal with.

The dead cap will be gone in the spring, and it could leave the Seahawks with the ability to acquire players who will transform more into a championship roster. These players could be those who strengthen the offensive line as the position needs upgrading. Whatever they decide, going with a rookie quarterback is risky but provides the best possibility of winning. If they find the perfect prospect and make the right moves to build around that guy, they will compete in the NFC West. Of course, if they falter at QB, that means back to square one. 

• The #9 Pick

Back picking in the top 10 of the draft for the first time since Schneider’s first year at the helm. Nevertheless, who do the Seahawks pick? Here are the two top prospects 

Desmond Ridder ”“ Cincinnati (QB)

Ridder is the most pro-ready quarterback in this draft. While he does not possess superb arm strength, he is a pocket quarterback with excellent footwork. Ridder has excellent awareness and can analyze coverages. In addition, he impressed the Seahawks in his pro day with an arm that looks stronger. The Seahawks may choose this route. The terrifying uncertainty of no Wilson, on the other hand, makes the brief solace of a quarterback at No. 9 appealing.

Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner ”“ Cincinnati (CB)

Gardner’s style of play suggests he could have a Richard Sherman impact in the future for a Seattle defence that has subsequently built an extra smaller corner model after becoming enamored with choosing corners with arms measuring 32 inches or longer. The youngster can move too, clocking a 40-yard sprint time of 4.41 seconds.

Gardner did not allow a single touchdown reception during his collegiate career. He barely allowed yards once the receiver did catch the ball, just 6.6 yards per reception in the 2021 college football season. While he must improve his tackling and transition footwork, the cornerback plays defence with the swagger reminiscent of Sherman. Gardner is the prototypical Seattle corner. One that Carroll could be paying attention to when pick No.9 arrives.

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By: Jake Rajala

The Seattle Seahawks have reunited with Geno Smith on a one-year deal worth $3.5 million dollars. Smith filled in as the starting quarterback for a portion of the 2021 season when Russell Wilson injured his finger in Week 5 against the Los Angeles Rams. Smith went 1-2 in his three starts last season, but he was an efficient, improved QB. The former New York Jets QB threw 5 touchdowns, 1 interception, and recorded a 68.4%. He had a very impressive moment in the Monday Night contest against the Saints, where he unleashed an 84-yard touchdown strike to DK Metcalf. Unfortunately, the Seahawks lost the MNF utterly rainy thriller.

Smith has the arm talent and he’s improved his turnover habits, but does he have a high ceiling? Smith wasn’t necessarily clutch in big-time moments in 2021. He coughed up the football against the Pittsburgh Steelers in overtime, which led to an easy Steelers victory. Smith was also mediocre against the LA Rams, as he notched 131 passing yards, 1 touchdown, and 1 interception. Although, he has shown to be a capable game manager. He was efficient against the Saints in the tough matchup and he still led the Seahawks to the overtime against the T.J. Watt-led Steelers.

So, how does Smith exactly compare to Lock? Well, Lock has been less impressive than Smith in recent memory. The former Broncos rookie sensation lost the starting QB spot to Teddy Bridgewater last season. He’s been 4-12 over his 16 previous matchups. Lock may be 25 years old and holding a slice of magic from his 4-1 record in his 2019 campaign, but he’s been vastly trending in the opposite direction from Smith.

It’s also puzzling that Lock has failed to utilize the talent in Denver, such as Jerry Jeudy, Courtland Sutton, and Tim Patrick. It’s far from certain that Lock will have mystic growth with the superb Seahawks weapons. With that said, I believe there is more reason to believe a motivated, familar Smith will rise to become the QB1 in Seattle.

If Smith can go toe to toe against the mighty Saints and aggressive Steelers, I believe the more prepared QB can turn heads in 2022 against pedestrian competition and have a career resurgence. The 2021 game manager Teddy Bridgewater edged out Drew Lock and cranked out a 7-7 record. Similarly, I could see the more polished 31-year-old Smith receiving the keys to his beloved offense and being the “bridge QB” next season.

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By: Mikaela Mattes

On Tuesday, March 8th, it was announced that the Seattle Seahawks agreed to terms to trade their franchise and Super-Bowl winning QB Russell Wilson to the Denver Broncos. The details of the trade included the Seahawks sending QB Russell Wilson and a fourth round draft pick to the Broncos for QB Drew Lock, DL Shelby Harris, TE Noah Fant, two first-round picks, two second-round picks and a fifth-round pick.

It is officially the end of an era in Seattle, as the Seahawks no longer have any players remaining on their roster from their 2014 Super-Bowl championship-winning roster after also releasing eight-time all-pro and pro-bowl LB Bobby Wagner on the same day of Wilson’s trade to Denver.

Who will be the next starting quarterback for the Seattle Seahawks?

Potential Quarterback Options:

QB, Drew Lock

As it stands, QB Drew Lock is the only quarterback on the Seahawks roster, as backup QB Geno Smith is set to hit free agency on March 16th. However, it is well-known that the Seahawks front office are, “In on everything,” and are exploring their options at this position to create competition heading into the 2022 season. Drew Lock could be seen as a transition or backup QB as they try and find their next franchise quarterback (which as we know, could take years), but I do not see him as a long-term solution to this position.

Over Lock’s first three seasons with Denver, he played in 24 games, with a starting record of 8-13. Over those 24 games, Lock had 25 touchdowns and 20 interceptions. His touchdown to interception ratio is not going to cut it as a franchise quarterback and it will not lead the Seahawks to the playoffs without a very strong showing from the Seahawks defense.

QB, Deshaun Watson

On Friday, March 11th, a grand jury declined to indict Houston Texans QB Deshaun Watson after a criminal investigation into 22 lawsuits filed by women who accused Watson of harassment and sexual assault. Within hours of this grand jury decision, rumors of the Seahawks being in serious pursuit of acquiring Watson emerged.

There is no doubt that Deshaun Watson is very talented and would immediately solve the issue of finding the next Seahawks franchise QB, however, I find major issues with the Seahawks going this route. I want to make it clear that although the grand jury declined to indict Watson on Friday for the allegations made against him based on a lack of incriminating evidence, that it does not mean Watson is innocent of the allegations made. He still faces civil lawsuits and is also being investigated by the NFL under its personal conduct policy. Trading for Watson would have massive implications for whatever team acquires him. It is clear that fans, media and players have varying opinions on whether Watson should be given a chance to start for any team, even when there is a high need for a new franchise quarterback like there is in Seattle.

Allegations aside, Watson would still be a large cap hit for the Seahawks to bring on the roster. *If* part of the reasoning for the Seahawks to move on from Wilson was that he was due a new contract after the 2023 season and that Wilson was wanting to get paid upwards to 50 million per year, then trading for Watson doesn’t put them in a much better place long-term cap wise. His cap hit for the 2022 season would be just over 40 million. For what the Texans are reportedly asking for Watson, the Seahawks would have to give up too much in potential draft capital and or quality players that remain on the roster and would be paying Watson a pretty penny over the next four years. I say look for a more affordable option and build a young and talented team on defense like they had in the Legion of Boom era and invest in a top tier offensive line for a young quarterback.

QB, Colin Kaepernick

On March 10th, just two days after news broke that Russell Wilson was being traded to the Broncos, Colin Kaepernick tweeted a video of himself working out on a football field, with the quote, “Still working.”

Back in 2017, the Seahawks brought Kaepernick in for a workout after he was blackballed from the NFL in 2016 for kneeling before games when the national anthem was playing to protest police brutality and social injustice. Just two years ago in 2020, Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll said that if Wilson ever got tangled up or couldn’t play anymore, that Kaepernick would be a great candidate to take over. Now that it has been six years since Kaepernick has been in the league, does Carroll feel the same way? I say it is worth bringing him in for a workout and see what he is capable of doing.

QB, Gardner Minshew

The Seahawks should strongly consider trading for backup Eagles quarterback, Gardner Minshew. Minshew’s win/loss record of 8-14 does not reflect his abilities to potentially be a highly effective starting quarterback. During his first two seasons, Minshew played for the Jacksonville Jaguars and found personal success on the field, but the team and franchise as a whole failed to win. After closely watching Minshew’s college career with the Washington State Cougars, and looking at Minshew’s stats over the past three years in the NFL, I think if he is partnered with the right coach and player personnel, he will thrive and be a winning quarterback in this league.

Minshew’s cap hit for the 2022 season is only 2.5 million and he is only 26 years old. If trading for Minshew allows the Seahawks to hold onto their higher draft capital and players, while keeping a low cap hit at QB for this season with the hit we will still take from Wilson’s contract, then they may find a diamond in the rough and a franchise QB moving forward that will allow them to invest more heavily at other positions of need.

Other option: Draft a Quarterback in the 2022 draft.

The Seahawks did receive the 9th overall pick in the 2022 draft from the Denver Broncos in their trade dealing Wilson. Will they use that 9th overall pick to draft a QB or will they go for another position of need, drafting the best available player? The Seahawks did draft, Russell Wilson, in the 2012 draft in the 3rd round at the 75th overall pick. Could they strike gold again by drafting a QB in the later rounds? The 2022 draft has been said not to be a good draft to get quarterbacks, but it has been rumored that the Seahawks are interested in Liberty University QB, Malik Willis.

Malik Willis is ascending and is expected to potentially be the first QB off the board during the 2022 draft. That being said, draft analysts say that the top tier of quarterbacks in the 2022 draft should be mid to late first round picks. With Willis ascending and the Seahawks in need of a QB, will they select him with their #9 overall pick, will they trade up for him, will they see if he falls, or will they invest in an established NFL quarterback to fill their starting role? Only time will tell.

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By: Steven Johnson

This offseason for the Denver Broncos has been dominated by questions surrounding the potential heir to the quarterback throne. Since bringing in former Carolina Panther’s quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, many fans brimmed with questions about what the team would look like this upcoming season. Many wondered if Bridgewater would be a veteran backup to Drew Lock or if he was here to take over the starting offense. All lights have been poised on the two quarterbacks throughout the start of the offseason program, training camp, and now through the first two preseason games, the Broncos have played. Lines for fandom have been drawn and many have moved from a competition standpoint to a fan club.

Those calling for Bridgewater enjoy the familiarity of his play and cite that the Broncos will know what to expect from him. Bridgewater fans explain the need for a quarterback that takes care of the ball and lets the defense put the team in favorable positions with the talent they have on that side of the ball. Many are upset with the lack of consistency the Denver quarterback room has shown over the past few seasons and believe that a “game-manager” quarterback is simply all that the team needs to see success in the upcoming season. Critics for Bridgewater explain that he is too conservative with his decisions. With the talent that the Broncos possess, fans have voiced concerns that Bridgewater can’t capitalize on the opportunities that present themselves. These fans believe that Bridgewater simply doesn’t possess the needed instinct to put points on the board and take shots downfield to keep the Broncos in high-scoring games. Playing in the AFC West, many fans see the success of Patrick Mahomes II and rising star Justin Herbert and wish for the same type of performance. Coming off of Bridgewater’s last season with the Panthers he threw 15 touchdown passes to 11 interceptions. This leads critics to point to a lack of ability to carry a team to wins and leaves doubt as to him taking over the starting role with the talent of the offense around him.

Those advocating for Lock to take over the starting role preach potential and consistency within the system. Fans claim Lock has the ability and physical tools necessary for the Broncos to compete with the likes of the Chiefs and Mahomes. Lock is shown as being the quarterback with higher ceiling potential for his skill and supporters say he needs time in the system to feel comfortable and flourish. Lock fans acknowledge while underperforming in seasons past, they still believe he presents the Broncos with the best opportunity to reach the top of the division and compete for a title for the first time since 2015. Critiques of Drew Lock include that his lack of progression regarding the reading of defenses is worrying and cite his lack of productivity outside of play-action and broken plays. Fans say Lock is dependent on vanilla defensive play and rolling out of the pocket to make something happen. With a stat line of 16 touchdowns to 15 interceptions last season as the starter, critics claim that he does not take care of the ball enough to give the Broncos a chance to compete in games. Many will say that the only quarterback a dominant defense like Denver will need is one that takes care of the football and limits mistakes, pointing to Teddy Bridgewater as a safe, viable option instead. Since watching the competition unfold, many will undoubtedly decide to veer to one of the quarterback options the Broncos are evaluating for the position. With that being said, the decision fans should make is simple.

The fanbase should get behind whoever the Broncos decide to lead the team. This whole offseason has been dominated by both sides rallying for a specific person to take over. Instead of supporting the team and being excited about young growth and returning players, fans have been obsessed with being right in their assumptions about “their guy” and how they perform. Too often have articles and posts been sent out in hopes of swaying people to take their side of the quarterback debate. While okay to have opinions and preferences, I think Broncos Country needs to step back and breathe. The logo of the team will always be more important than the individuals wearing it. The Broncos and the fans already saw the mania that one individual can bring with the emergence of Tim Tebow at quarterback. When Peyton Manning came to Denver, he was supported because of what he brought to the team as a whole. Fans need to stop putting personal preference above the success and values of the team that they support. The Denver Broncos as an organization will be around long after both of these quarterbacks are no longer playing, and fans need to realize that personal agendas aren’t needed when they divide the fanbase. The support of fans should be behind all of the men wearing that orange and blue uniform, not an individual who just so happens to be a Denver Bronco.

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