Don’t worry, there won’t be any mention of Russell Wilson trade rumors after this paragraph. Myself and countless others have written plenty on the subject, if that’s what you came here for. No, this article will focus on a topic far less divisive, but no less important: the Seattle Seahawks’ backup quarterback job.
We’ve seen in recent years how vital it is to have a quality replacement waiting in the wings should something happen to your star quarterback. Nick Foles’ legendary playoff run in 2017-18 and Chad Henne’s divisional round heroics last season are prime examples.
Geno Smith has held down the fort the past two seasons, but hasn’t been called upon for anything other than mop-up duty. Seattle has Alex McGough and Danny Etling on the practice squad, but neither appear ready to step into the backup role. With Smith set to hit NFL Free Agency, now is the perfect time for the Seahawks to upgrade at the position. Who should get the first call?
Seahawks Backup Quarterback Targets
Top of the list: Cam Newton, Jameis Winston, Tyrod Taylor, Jacoby Brissett
All four would certainly prefer to find a starting job somewhere, but there’s just not enough to go around. At least one of them will lose this game of musical chairs, and the Seahawks should be ready to offer their backup job as a consolation prize. Russell Wilson hasn’t missed a start in his nine-year career, but that could change with just one hard hit or awkward step. Any of these quarterbacks could keep Seattle’s title hopes alive in that event.
Of the four, Tyrod Taylor is the best fit. He may not have Newton’s level of experience or the future potential of the other two, but he’s a mobile, strong-armed quarterback like Wilson. More importantly, he takes care of the football. He boasted the lowest interception percentage in the league in his last year as Buffalo’s starter, throwing just four picks in 420 pass attempts. In fact, he had just 27 total turnovers over his entire three-year Bills tenure, only seven more than Wilson had just in the last season. He’s also likely to be the cheapest option of the four, given his age. The Seahawks couldn’t ask for much better in a backup quarterback.
Backup Plan: Geno Smith
Geno Smith’s career so far hasn’t gone as he hoped. He hasn’t been a Week 1 starter since 2014, when he had 21 turnovers and was benched twice for an aging Michael Vick. The Jets finished with a 3-10 record in his 13 starts, then gave his starting job to Ryan Fitzpatrick the following year. Smith has spent the last six years bouncing around the league as a backup. His most recent start came in 2017, when he stepped in for one game after Eli Manning’s controversial benching. In his two years in Seattle, his biggest contribution came when a questionable pronunciation of the word “heads” helped him win an overtime coin toss.
In addition to his lack of recent playing time, Smith will turn 31 in October and his career statistics can’t compare to any of the quarterbacks mentioned above. He does, however, have the benefit of spending two years in the Seahawks quarterback room. He’s already built relationships with his teammates and the coaching staff and performed well in camp last offseason. If none of the top tier fall into Seattle’s price range, Smith is the next best option.
[sc name=”nfl-fa-date” ]Penny-pinching options: Blake Bortles, Brandon Allen
Yes. Okay. I get it. It’s funny. You can stop laughing now.
At this price tag- no? Still going? Okay, I’ll wait.
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Fine, I’ll just talk over you. At this price tier, you’re paying for either upside or familiarity. Blake Bortles brings a little of both to the table. He spent 2019 and part of 2020 as a backup with the Rams, meaning he already has an understanding of new Seahawks offensive coordinator Shane Waldron’s system. He also has 73 games’ worth of starting experience under his belt. Sure, his numbers in Jacksonville weren’t stellar, but they were still miles better than Smith’s output in New York. Given the opportunity to throw to D.K. Metcalf and Tyler Lockett instead of Keelan Cole and Marqise Lee, he could thrive in Seattle’s offense.
See, that wasn’t so b- alright, alright. Once you’ve regained your composure, we can move on to the next paragraph.
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Brandon Allen projects as a lower-upside version of Bortles, minus the baggage. Allen played terribly in three starts for the Broncos in 2019, completing just 46.4% of his passes and posting a 24.0% bad-throw percentage, third-worst in the league among players with at least 50 pass attempts. He showed massive improvement in five starts with Cincinnati last year, with those numbers changing to 63.4% and 16.5%, respectively. Allen also spent time with the Rams and Waldron in 2017-18, is still young at 28 and shouldn’t command much attention on the open market. If Seattle really wants to cut costs at the position, Allen could get a call.
Seahawks Backup Quarterback Free Agent Prediction: Geno Smith
With so many other positions to address this offseason, Seattle is unlikely to spend big on a backup quarterback. While not all of the four top targets will find starting roles, those who miss out should still find backup jobs with a higher salary or a clearer path to playing time. Geno Smith is a known commodity and shouldn’t command a significant price tag on another one-year deal. Barring a major shake-up, he is the most likely candidate to hold a clipboard on the Seahawks’ sideline in 2021.
