Back in 2018, the Seattle Seahawks used a seventh round pick on little known Florida International University quarterback Alex McGough. It appeared that, for the first time since they selected Russell Wilson in 2012, the Seahawks were planning to grow and develop their own quarterback as a backup – and perhaps eventual successor – to Wilson.
Just before the start of the regular season however, the Seahawks traded a 2019 sixth round pick to the Packers for veteran Brett Hundley, pushing McGough to the practice squad and eventually onto the Jaguars roster after the season ended.
Such is the life of a young quarterback for the Seahawks. The team seems content filling the backup role with experienced veterans, should they ever be needed.
Wilson’s reputation as an iron-man has made the backup quarterback position somewhat ceremonial in Seattle, especially now that they are looking at their third different backup in the last three seasons.
Most expected Seattle to bring in a rookie to challenge veteran Paxton Lynch for the backup job this season, but a recent report indicated that Seattle is expected to sign veteran Geno Smith. So, Seattle’s backup job will likely go to either Lynch or Smith – and not one of the three free agents Seattle brought to rookie minicamp earlier this month.
Having a backup quarterback with NFL experience does make sense for a team that is always competing for a playoff spot, as it sends the message that – even without Wilson – the team plans to stay competitive and not pack it in.
Of course, Wilson’s career won’t last forever, and the team will eventually want to have a successor in mind.
For now, they seem content finding cast-away veterans who can step in if needed – and they’ll worry about finding their future quarterback some other time.
