Seahawks OC: Geno Smith has early edge in competition with Drew Lock

Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Shane Waldron says it'll be a long time before the team is ready to decide who starts at quarterback in Week 1, but Drew Lock has some catching up to do if he hopes to beat out Geno Smith for the job.

On Thursday, Waldron told KJR radio that Smith's familiarity with the Seahawks offense and playmakers after two years with the team is the early difference in the competition.

"Right now, Geno has done such a good job of carrying over. He already had a head start over Drew right there," Waldron told KJR, via the Tacoma News Tribune. "We have a long time to go. We are just in T-shirts and shorts right now, going against air. We have a long way to go to see where this competition [goes].

"The thing you see of Geno is his connection with his teammates. At that position, that's a huge part of that."

Smith, 31, started three games for the Seahawks during the 2021 season when Russell Wilson suffered a finger injury. He finished the season with five passing touchdowns and one interception, but recorded a 1-2 record as a starter.

Wilson was traded to the Denver Broncos earlier this offseason in a deal that sent Lock to the Seahawks. Lock started 21 games in three seasons with the Broncos and has 25 career touchdowns with 20 interceptions.