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3 Seahawks who won’t be back and best options to replace them

By Cody Williams

Jan 14, 2023; Santa Clara, California, USA; Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll gestures from the sidelines in the third quarter of a wild card game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 14, 2023; Santa Clara, California, USA; Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll gestures from the sidelines in the third quarter of a wild card game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports /
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Seattle Seahawks
Drew Lock, Seattle Seahawks. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports /

The Seahawks caught everyone by surprise to make the playoffs but, after their exit, these players won’t be back in 2023 and Seattle must replace them.

Whenever the Seattle Seahawks traded Russell Wilson to Denver, everyone was ready to consider Pete Carroll’s team the worst in the league. So imagine the shock after 18 regular season weeks when it was Seattle that was suiting up for a playoff matchup against the 49ers while the Broncos were at home watching (and doing so from well outside the postseason race).

Admittedly, the playoff game on Super Wild Card weekend didn’t go to plan as Geno Smith and the offense couldn’t keep up with the potent 49ers offense. But even still, it was a phenomenal showing for a team that exceeded all preseason expectations by a mile. Now the question becomes what’s next?

The best place to start there is to look at the players the Seahawks will likely be losing this offseason and what the team could do to replace some of those guys.

Seahawks: 3 players who won’t be back in 2023 and best replacements for them

Scouting Report. 3. 36. Drew Lock. player. Pick Analysis. QB. Seattle Seahawks

Drew Lock came to the Seahawks in the Russell Wilson trade but won’t return

In the preseason, it now seems silly to think that Geno Smith and Drew Lock, the latter coming to Seattle in the Wilson trade, were battling for the QB1 spot after Smith set franchise records for passing yards and completion percentage. Lock served as the backup for the veteran, though, but is now set to become a free agent this offseason.

For as much potential as Lock has, he hasn’t been able to put it together when on an NFL field. And while he could be considered a cheap backup option as the team appears set to bring Smith back, whether on the franchise tag or a longer-term contract, the Seahawks might actually be better off to let him walk.

So what would Seattle then do in order to fill the quarterback depth chart?

Seahawks best replacement options for Drew Lock

  • Will Levis (NFL Draft)
  • Taylor Heinicke (Free Agency)
  • Hendon Hooker (NFL Draft)

Levis and Hooker are intriguing draft options for Seattle. Levis is the highest-upside QB in the draft but needs serious development. Bringing him in to back up Smith would make sense. Hooker, meanwhile, is more polished but also more of a finished product and is coming off of a torn ACL. Still, his long-term outlook could be great behind Smith. Heinicke, for his case, has been passable as a starter but would make the most sense backing up someone like Smith to deepen the quarterback room.

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