Seahawks to Trade Potential Talent at QB

The next quarterback for the Seattle Seahawks could be selected in the near future.

According to Connor Livesay of The 33rd Team’s 2024 NFL Mock Draft, he projects that the Seahawks will choose LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels in the first round. Daniels is projected by Livesay to be the fifth quarterback chosen at No. 26.

Even though Geno Smith’s narrative has been a pleasant one, Livesay contends that nobody in Seattle’s front office thinks he’s the “long-term answer.”

According to Livesay, the Seattle Seahawks must make an intriguing choice about the quarterback situation. “Although it has been fascinating to watch the Geno Smith tale, I doubt that anyone in the Seattle front office believes he is the long-term solution. Jayden Daniels, who is having a season worthy of a Heisman Trophy, would be a great fit in Seattle with Kenneth Walker, DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba.

Why Geno Smith May Not Be Long-Term Answer for Seahawks

Smith, 33, has a deal with Seattle that runs through the 2025 campaign. Before making $25 million in 2025, Smith is due $22.5 million for the 2024 season. Smith’s deal has a potential out in 2024, which would cause a $17.4 million dead cap charge. Smith’s release or trade would result in a $8.7 million dead cap hit for the 2025 campaign.

It seems improbable that the Seahawks will let go of Smith in the upcoming summer, given that they are 6-3 and in a strong position to win their second straight postseason berth with him. But this season, Smith has not impressed at all.

In terms of most significant metrics, the seasoned quarterback is in the center of the pack; he is ranked 15th in passing yards, 16th in touchdowns, and 19th in passer rating. Additionally, his touchdown-to-interception ratio (11 touchdowns against seven interceptions) is ranked 23rd in the NFL, and his seven interceptions are tied for eighth-most in the league.

Smith ranks 16th among all starting quarterbacks this season with an offensive grade of 75.3, according to Pro Football Focus.

Why Seahawks Could Draft QB Jayden Daniels

Said another way, given that it seems like Smith has reached a ceiling, it could be time for Seattle to start looking to the future. With DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and Kenneth Walker among the Seahawks’ most skilled offensive supporting casts, the poor performance is even more worrisome.

Seattle’s long-term solution may lie in drafting one of the most exciting quarterback prospects in the next draft.

In his own 2024 NFL Mock Draft, Luke Easterling of Sports Illustrated notes that Daniels’ talent “screams potential superstar.”

Although there are other choices to take into account, Easterling notes that Daniels has been the most impressive college football player this season and that his progress “screams potential superstar at the next level.”

Lately, the 22-year-old quarterback’s value has increased on mock selection boards. Easterling projects the Buccaneers will select him at No. 11 in the draft. In contrast, Athlon Sports’ Kyle Crabbs predicted Daniels to be a Day 3 choice as recently as one month ago.

Daniels’ age and quantity of starts may eventually be seen as too rough around the edges for him to be given serious consideration in the draft, according to Easterling. He sometimes acts like a wild horse, depending entirely on his inventiveness to succeed in the role. In his ideal situation, a team would fall in love with his character and leadership style, much like the Browns did with Dorian Thompson-Robinson in the previous class.

One of the best dual-threat quarterbacks in the nation, the 6-foot-3, 200-pound player has 30 touchdowns versus four interceptions, 918 running yards on 8.1 yards per attempt, and eight touchdowns. Daniels is second in yards per attempt and absolutely leads the nation in passing touchdowns.

Given that Seattle will not be able to select any of the top three quarterbacks in the draft—Caleb Williams, Drake Maye, or J.J. McCarthy—they have a chance to select Daniels late in the first round.

Despite his possible rawness and diminutive build, Daniels’ athleticism and production have the potential to make him the most productive quarterback selected in this class.