After Geno Smith’s season, there is no way that he is not the quarterback (QB) for the Seahawks next year. The belief around the league was that the Seahawks would be making a top-five pick in this year’s draft, and it turns out everyone was right. While the Seahawks snuck into the playoffs this year, they also snagged the Broncos’ first-round pick that landed in the top five. The Seahawks will be able to contend again next year while setting themselves up for the future.
Star wide receiver (WR) DK Metcalf has already said that Geno will be back. Geno has said that he would love to be back. The Seahawks do not need to play around and should sign him to a two-year deal once free agency starts. He will be their starter next year while mentoring their future QB. Who the next QB will be is to be determined. The Seahawks hold the fifth and twentieth picks in the upcoming draft, and they should be able to add two young guys who will contribute on day one.
Their first pick should be on the defensive side. It is safe to say Jalen Carter and Will Anderson Jr. will be taken at this point unless a few teams jump in front of the Seahawks to snag their QB. With the top two defensive guys gone, the Seahawks will have to look deep into Myles Murphy, Tyree Wilson, and Joey Porter Jr., among others.
Porter would be an excellent match for the young lockdown corner already on the roster, Tariq Woolen. Murphy and Wilson are raw prospects with much-untapped potential if they decide to boost the front line. What the Seahawks do with their first pick will determine what they do with their last choice in the first round. The Seahawks would be better off going defensive line early and then corner later since 2023 boasts such a deep corner class. Guys like Kelee Ringo and Cam Smith should still be available at Pick 20. Much like Porter, both of these guys would fit well with Woolen.
However, if Anthony Richardson falls to the Seahawks at 20, they must sweep him up and not look twice. Richardson has traits that none of the other QB prospects possess. He is extremely raw, and the Seahawks would be a perfect fit as he could have 1-2 years sitting under Geno, learning. He would then step into a fantastic situation with a good offensive line, a young running back, and a great receiving core.
To go along with their two first-round picks, the Seahawks also have two second-round choices they will use to get a defensive tackle, linebacker, offensive line help, or even a rookie WR. At 37, there will be a plethora of edge rushers, and Nolan Smith will fall due to an injury suffered in college. The second round would be a great value, and a linebacker like Trenton Simpson would also be a great fit with the Seahawks. With the later second-round pick, someone like Cedric Tillman or Kayshon Boutte would be a great addition to the WR room.
If the Seahawks can hit on at least three out of four of these picks, they will compete for a division title next year and for years to come.