For a team that has just one pick inside the first 80 selections of the 2024 NFL Draft (as of this writing) they sure are visiting a lot of quarterbacks. Heading into Thursday the Seahawks had already logged eight quarterback visits this draft season (between Combine formals, private workouts, and pro days). After today that total has risen to nine. To put that number into perspective, the team hasn't logged more than four official visits or interviews with any other position group this draft cycle.
According to Omar Ruiz of NFL Network, Seahawks general manager John Schneider made sure he was at the Washington Pro Day on Thursday to see Michael Penix Jr. put on a show.
Most NFL Draft analysts are spending a lot of time talking about the teams situated in the first six picks, Vikings, Broncos, and Raiders when it comes to potential quarterback moves. But as the draft process progresses, the Seahawks are becoming quite the sleeper team to get their signal caller of the future.
Geno Smith will be 34 years old before the midpoint of the 2024 season, and his contract is actually quite flexible beyond this year if a tough decision needs to be made. Geno's late career resurgence has been refreshing to see, but he's also not played to a level inspiring confidence that the team could get to a Super Bowl with him at the helm. It may make real sense for the team to target their quarterback of the future as they plan ahead.
Currently situated at pick 16, the Seahawks don't likely have sufficient ammo to move up without absolutely debilitating the team's future, but Michael Penix Jr. should be available there. Penix Jr. actually is the perfect stylistic fit to sit and learn behind Geno Smith for a year or two before taking the reins permanently. He even said that he would love that opportunity at the NFL Combine. Both signal callers have excellent intermediate-deep accuracy with limited mobility, but make up for it by evading sacks at an elite rate (Penix with an 8% pressure to sack rate last year).
In the end, it is just one visit from the general manager. However, it's also important to note that the Seahawks' new offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb was at Washington with Penix for the last two seasons. A reunion of the two would definitely make for smooth offensive continuity and scheme fit.
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