The Seahawks underwent a major shift at quarterback in March, when they traded away 34-year-old veteran Geno Smith and then replaced him by signing 27-year-old Sam Darnold to a team-friendly three-year, $100.5 million deal.<\/p>\n
But they didn\u2019t stop there. Seahawks GM John Schneider also spent a third-round pick on Alabama dual-threat QB Jalen Milroe in April\u2019s NFL Draft, giving the team a longer-term developmental option at the position.<\/p>\n
Former Las Vegas Raiders GM Mike Mayock<\/a> praised Schneider\u2019s approach last week during an appearance on Seattle Sports\u2019 Brock and Salk.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \u201cPhilosophically, I love what they did, because very few NFL teams are intentional about the quarterback position, in my opinion, the way they should be,\u201d said Mayock, who also spent 15 years as a draft analyst for NFL Network.<\/p>\n \u201cSo basically, it\u2019s two moves. They go out and they trade Geno at age 34 (and then sign) a 27-year-old Sam Darnold. They pay Sam a reasonable starting salary that they can effectively get out of after two years for plus or minus $65 million and a reasonable dead cap hit. And then they draft a developmental quarterback behind him. So there\u2019s a plan A and a plan B here.\u201d<\/p>\n In signing Darnold, the Seahawks are hoping the former first-round pick can build on his breakout 2024 campaign with the Minnesota Vikings, which revived his once-disappointing career. But at the same time, as Mayock mentioned, the Seahawks structured Darnold\u2019s contract in a way that allows them to move on after one or two years if he doesn\u2019t pan out.<\/p>\n And in Milroe, the Seahawks took a shot at a rare athletic talent. Milroe still needs a plenty of polishing as a passer<\/a>, but with big-time speed packed into a powerful 6-foot-2, 217-pound frame, he has a tantalizing skill set as a runner.<\/p>\n \u201cI love the fact that, you know, let\u2019s root for Sam Darnold to be who he was last year and continue to get better, but let\u2019s also develop this young kid who had the best physical traits of any quarterback in this draft,\u201d Mayock said. \u201cAnd does (Milroe) need 10,000 reps and time on task? Absolutely. But (in the meantime), Darnold is there and can play at a highly competent level.<\/p>\n \u201cI just think that John doubled down on it \u2013 not unlike signing Matt Flynn years ago and drafting Russell Wilson in the third round. I\u2019m just a big fan of what John did there.\u201d<\/p>\n Listen to the full conversation with Mike Mayock at this link<\/a> or in the audio player near the top of this story. Tune in to Brock and Salk weekdays from 6 to 10 a.m. or find the podcast on the Seattle Sports app.<\/p>\n More on the Seattle Seahawks<\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0Watch: Seattle Seahawks take batting practice at T-Mobile Park<\/a>
\u2022\u00a0Seattle Seahawks sign undrafted rookie WR\/kick returner<\/a>
\u2022\u00a0Huard: What Brock Purdy has that Sam Darnold still needs<\/a>
\u2022\u00a0Brock and Salk disagree on Seattle Seahawks rookie QB Jalen Milroe<\/a>
\u2022\u00a0Ranking the five toughest games on Seattle Seahawks\u2019 schedule<\/a><\/p>\n
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