Would Seahawks have drafted QB Anthony Richardson at pick No. 5?

It sounds like the Seattle Seahawks would have at least kicked the tires on drafting Florida Gators quarterback Anthony Richardson had he slid to overall pick No. 5. 

"We considered him," Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll said of Richardson during an appearance on Seattle Sports Radio’s "Bump and Stacy" program, as shared by Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio and Kevin Patra of the NFL's website. "Shoot, we flew all the way out there to go see him. Not just to see him but to be around him and watch him and how he handled himself, and his program with all the hype that was going. We gave him tremendous consideration." 

After Bryce Young and C.J. Stroud went off the board with the draft's two picks, Richardson and Kentucky Wildcats quarterback Will Levis were both potential options for Seattle at the fifth selection until Indianapolis grabbed Richardson at No. 4. Both Colts general manager Chris Ballard and team owner Jim Irsay have since indicated there was never any real chance they were passing on Richardson. 

Instead of choosing Levis to serve as a hoped-to-be franchise player at the sport's most important position, Seattle selected Illinois Fighting Illini cornerback Devon Witherspoon at No. 5. 

Back in March, the Seahawks signed veteran signal-caller Geno Smith to what was originally reported to be a three-year deal that could be worth up to $105M. However, it was later mentioned that Seattle theoretically could move on from that contract after just one season

Smith subsequently made it known that he was ready to compete with and also mentor a rookie assuming the Seahawks used a first-round pick on the 32-year-old's eventual replacement. Seattle instead went in a different direction. 

"He might be the best athlete that’s ever been drafted at that position," Carroll added about Richardson. "He’s arguably that. So, we had to definitely consider that." 

As for Levis, he dropped all the way out of the draft's first round and until the Tennessee Titans moved up to get him with pick No. 33. One couldn't blame Levis for wanting to make clubs such as the Seahawks regret passing on him through the end of last Thursday night.