Seattle Seahawks: Players to Consider at Quarterback in 2011

The secret has been out for nearly four months; the Seahawks have one quarterback under contract heading into 2011. Charlie Whitehurst started two games in 2010, two total in his five year career.

With the uncertainty comes options, at least two spaces to fill at the quarterback position. 

John Schneider was clear in his post draft comments that the team has multiple plans ready to execute once the lockout is lifted, in regards to filling the quarterback position. However, they remain stuck playing the waiting game.

The Seahawks will have the option of signing free agents; they will likely explore the possibility of making another trade to acquire a quarterback; and they will certainly sift through the undrafted free agency pool.

Let's take a quick look at what they had in 2010, and explore where they will look in 2011. 

Note: Three or more quarterbacks are highlighted, per slide.    

The Known Commodities

Matt Hasselbeck, Charlie Whitehurst and J.P. Losman were the three quarterbacks on the roster in 2010, Hasselbeck and Losman free to leave.

We'll start with Charlie Whitehurst, since he's technically all Seattle has. After spending four years as a third-stringer in San Diego, he was rewarded with a two-year, $8 million deal, worth $10 million with incentives. Seattle's surrender of a third-round pick coupled with the contract has created expecations.

Two career starts, one overly scrutinized career win in a "championship" game; the Seahawks feel Whitehurst is their up and coming quarterback and it's time his hat is thrown in the ring to be considered the starter. The fact that he won that game helps, but he did enough to win; the score was 16-6 at home, seven came on the first drive. 

He has the arm strength, athleticism and toughness; but can he fix his technique, adjust to the speed of the game and work on the mental side of being a quarterback; can he win the job in training camp and if not, compete later in the season?

He's in position to be in the picture for the future, but he must show improvement as soon as he takes a snap in front of the Seahawks coaching staff.

Matt Hasselbeck's offseason has been well documented, and for once I wont re-hash it in depth. He helped organize the Seahawks workouts and has continually said he wants to be a Seahawk; but like everyone else, he's acknowledged the NFL is a business and he's prepared to go elsewhere.

The question is can he get healthy; there is no doubt Hasselbeck would be an asset helping the transition into Darrell Bevell's offense, an offense similar to Holmgren's offense that Hasselbeck ran efficiently--when he was healthier. 

We know he turned down a one-year, $7 million deal before the lockout; I'm of the opinion he wants another year, not more money.

The Seahawks won the division with some of Hasselbeck's worst career play, but there is no guarantee that can happen again. Then again, no one thought the Seahawks could score 41 against the Saints or score three fourth quarter touchdowns in Chicago. 

Hasselbeck remains one of the top options for the Seahawks and has potentially seen his value to the team potentially increase given his offseason commitment to the Seahawks program. Despite a growing media opinion Hasselbeck will leave Seattle, I believe he remains in play. 

J.P. Losman is a veteran with 33 career starts, all coming as a Buffalo Bill. In his only season as the fulltime starter in 2006, Losman threw for over 3,000 yards and competed better than 62 percent of his passes.

Losman is a good athlete with a strong arm, but he proved to be inconsistent; his production dropped after 2006 and he has thrown one pass since leaving Buffalo after 2008. The Seahawks could look elsewhere in 2011 for a potential developmental prospect or another veteran they believe could push for the starting job.

Losman is likely nothing more than a fall back option given his familiarity with the organization and Tom Cable, after spending 2009 in Oakland.  

Free Agent Options with Ties to the Seahawks Coaching Staff

Who the Seahawks pursue will largely depend on whether or not the re-sign Matt Hasselbeck.

If they don't re-sign him, they will look for a veteran who can quickly learn the offense and compete with Whitehurst. They would also be wise to look for a third quarterback that either has developmental potential, or is a veteran that is looking to resurrect his career as a third quarterback on the rise.

One popular name linked to Seattle is Matt Leinart; given the hiring of former USC quarterback coach Carl Smith, Leinart's coach during the 2004 Heisman season, I think Leinart in 2011 makes more sense than Leinart did in 2010.

We know Leinart has produced under these two coaches, but he has proven during in his time in the NFL to not be as moldable of a pupil; he spent 2010 in Houston on the bench, a humbling experience for a player who came into the league with expectations of being a star. The question is what can Smith and Carroll get out of Leinart the second time around?

A career completion percentage just north of 57 and a 14:20 touchdown to interception ratio; only 17 starts in his career, but only one since 2008. Thus far, a career well short of the expectations. 

But Seattle could be the place for him to turn around his fortune; to take the speculation one step further, it was recently reported the Seahawks are expected to sign Leinart, to the point it would be an "upset" if he wasn't signed. Leinart is a strong option as a third quarterback, with the potential to resurrect his career.

Another player who may look to Seattle for a roster spot is former Viking Tarvaris Jackson, who spent five years with Darrell Bevell in Minnesota.

Jackson is a good athlete who was very raw when he came into the league. 20 career starts and spot play in all five years has given Jackson the opportunity to prove he has in fact matured, but how much is a valid question.

Jackson's numbers have been up and down his entire career, 17 of his 20 starts coming in 2007 and 2008 before sitting behind Brett Favre for two seasons.

His understanding of Bevell's offense and Bevell's past praise suggests Jackson could be a fit; he fits the athletic profile the Seahawks may value in a quarterback.

However, his ties aren't as strong as Leinart's. Given the importance of lineage to this organization, the tiebreaker could go to Leinart. I personally think Jackson is an intriguing option, especially if the team doesn't bring back Hasselbeck.

The final player of highlight with ties to the coaching staff is former Raiders quarterback Bruce Gradkowski. Gradkowski spent the past two seasons in Oakland as a spot starter with eight starts and 13 appearances; his numbers haven't been impressive at any point in his career--especially as he struggled through 11 starts as a rookie in 2006 with Tampa Bay.

To me, Gradkowski is a Tom Cable type of guy; he's an undersized scrapper on the field, someone who can extend the play with effort. However, he is more of a game manager and struggles as a downfield passer. 

Unfortunately, his inconsistency has hindered him from gaining more playing time, a career completion percentage just above 53 and a career rating below 70 proving he has not shown starter ability thus far. Gradkowski brings experience as a third quarterback with the potential to be a spot starter, potentially a similar situation to J.P. Losman in 2010. I don't expect Gradkowski to be a top option, but he is a solid veteran backup.   

The Rest of the Free Agent Pool

If the Seahawks don't re-sign Hasselbeck, i'd be surprised to see none of the previous three players end up on the Seahawks; they shouldn't carry a high price tag. 

Beyond those three, the options in the free agent pool are slim.

Panthers quarterback Matt Moore is entering his fifth season and is potentially a free agent, depending on the new rules. He has 13 career starts with up and down results.

However, his 2009 season truly stands out and makes Moore an option worth exploring. In five starts he had a 4-1 record, completed over 61 percent of his passes and had 8:2 touchdowns to interceptions, with a quarterback rating near 100.

His 2010 season didn't flash quite the same potential; a completion percentage below 56, 5:10 touchdown to interception ratio and a rating below 60 shows inconsistency is an issue in Moore's game.

He tore his throwing shoulder labrum and finished the season on IR. He showed promise into 2010, but the injury may complicate matters.

The Seahawks should proceed with caution when pursuing Moore, but a healthy Moore could be a factor in Bevell's offense; he is a bit undersized, but plays with a chip on his shoulder--he went undrafted in 2007. Consider Moore an under-the-radar option with potential given his more recent starting experience--possibly in the top three options with Leinart and Jackson, outside of Hasselbeck.

If Moore is under-the-radar, Trent Edwards is in Stealth mode, likely off the radar for most pundits.

Edwards is a smart quarterback with starter experience, but is by no means the answer. He is on this list largely because he was reportedly on the radar for Seattle headed into 2010, before he lost the starting job in Buffalo.

His 33 career starts spread out over five season shows he is consistently fighting for playing time, but has never been able to get over the hump--a backup last season in Jacksonville after his release.

I'd favor Moore over Edwards, but Edwards is a safe bet as a backup.

My darkhorse free agent candidate; Drew Stanton. The Michigan State product had a solid collegiate career, but his senior season was cut short by a concussion. He then was placed on IR before his rookie year in 2007, after knee surgery.  

He was an accurate passer in college and showed strong leadership, but needed to develop in the pros. He has started only four games and is headed into his fifth NFL season. 

He is a thick, strong quarterback with a set of intangibles the Seahawks may value. Stanton could be signed as a third quarterback, his potential yet to be explored. 

A Charlie Whitehurst Scenario, Take Two?

The Seahawks made it clear before the 2011 draft they hoped to trade down from the No. 25 pick, but GM John Schneider also wasn't shy about the fact he was disappointed the team didn't have a third round pick.

I have remained true to the following opinion for quite some time this offseason; the Seahawks are still unsure as to how the Charlie Whitehurst experiment panned out and they must be extremely careful this offseason if they are to trade more picks for another quarterback.

As a GM that has been bred to build primarily through the draft, Schneider values his picks; and if the Seahawks lose a bunch of games in 2011, he is going to have a real juicy selection near the top of the 2012 draft. Carroll and Schneider could get their crack at a variety of top quarterbacks. 

However, the Seahawks have been rumored as suitors for a variety of quarterbacks potentially on the trading block. A run through of potential targets:

The most obvious target is Kevin Kolb, who has been linked to Seattle before 2010. I'll be blunt; his 2009 play was more enticing than his 2010 performance, and his career numbers aren't all that impressive; a completion percentage below 61, more interceptions than touchdowns and the fact that he's already experienced concussion and fumble problems put somewhat of a damper on his resume.

Furthermore, the price for Kolb is rumored to be a first round pick; he comes from a strong pedigree in Philadelphia and has flashed potential, but is he worth a first rounder; and on top of that, Kolb has previously said he wants a starters contract if traded.

A first round pick would bind the Seahawks into playing him--a sign that they feel that much more confident in Kolb than they did when trading for Whitehurst-- and likely come with the burden of the large contract as well. In my opinion, a large risk to take with the upside of losing in 2011 a top level pick in 2012. 

The next popular rumor, and an obvious rumor given the USC connection, is Carson Palmer. But this situation is more cut and dry; Bengals owner Mike Brown has been adamant during the lockout Palmer can either play for the Bengals or retire, refusing to meet Palmer's trade demands.

We don't know if Brown is bluffing; consider Palmer is also slated to make $11.5 million or more per season for the rest of his deal, expiring after 2014. That's a large contract to move.

Palmer has been a productive pro, a decent game manager with a knack for the big play early in his career; Palmer's numbers have been on a relative decline the past two seasons, starting with a "frayed" ligament in his throwing elbow in 2008. 

I think Seattle should stay away from trading for Palmer and should re-sign Hasselbeck if they are looking for a former pro-bowl veteran; especially after acknowledging the disappointment of feeling shorthanded in this years draft.   

Donovan Mcnabb has been in a variety of trade rumors, at some points linked to Seattle. His situation in Washington is incredibly murky; also a situation I think the Seahawks should steer clear of. Plus, he may be released in the end...

Kyle Orton is another popular veteran name being floated around, for the "firm price" of a second round pick. I'd personally be surprised to see Denver trade their veteran quarterback, especially with Tim Tebow unproven. New head coach Jon Fox value's toughness and leadership, both qualities Orton has.

Orton has been productive in Denver and is a smart game manager. I think he could be a sleeper under consideration for Seattle, but not the primary option. 

A Charlie Whitehurst Scenario, Take Two? Cont.

There is a group of younger quarterbacks, however, that may be worth a look. But as stated on the previous page, I think Seattle should proceed with caution making any trade involving quarterbacks in 2011.

Matt Flynn of the Packers made a splash during his nationally televised start in place of Aaron Rodgers, as he almost pulled off the upset in Foxborough. His total resume, three years in the league and one start, offers little else.

Given his ties to John Schneider, pursuing Flynn would make sense. However, the price tag may too high for Seattle's liking.

Another option to explore is New England's Brian Hoyer. He's been in the league two years and has zero starts, but his pedigree is undeniable. Just another name to throw into the fray, but Hoyer will likely carry a Belichickian price tag. For either player, Seattle may consider parting with a late round pick.

I believe the Broncos would be wise to explore trading Brady Quinn, who wants a shot to be the Broncos starter; that may not happen.

Quinn has started 12 games and has yet to get a legitimate chance after being slowly introduced to the field in Cleveland. Quinn for a late round or conditional pick could be a very backup option for Seattle. 

The last name to bring into the discussion for potential trades is Vince Young. Now, we don't know if he will be released from Tennesee or if they will try and trade him.

There is no doubt Young carries baggage and has talent; the question is which one will prevail?

We've seen the good, bad and ugly of Vince Young since he's entered the pros. Pete Carroll is the type of coach to take a chance on a player with character issues if the player has great potential--Carroll has seen that winning potential first hand.

The fog will have to clear before proceeding, but the Seahawks could explore Young as an option for the third spot.

Fresh into the World of Undrafted Free Agency

Using the undrafted free agent pool to find the quarterback of the future is not the preferred method for most organizations. 

Schneider commented after the draft that ideally the Seahawks would like to have an Aaron Rodgers type quarterback that can sit and mature for a year or two; this coming in his explanation as to why the team didn't draft potentially ready-to-play quarterback Andy Dalton.

If the Seahawks look for an undrafted quarterback it will likely be for a practice squad/developmental type role. Here is a list of prospects to consider (all players are linked to their cbssports.com draft profile):

Adam Froman, Pat Devlin, Josh Portis, Scott Tolzien, Jerrod Johnson (drafted in the UFL), Jeff Van Camp, Taylor Potts.