The search for a new franchise quarterback may soon begin for the Seattle Seahawks.

The Seahawks will be starting a new chapter as they go into the summer. That’s because Seattle is letting go of veteran head coach Pete Carroll after 14 seasons. Josh Edwards of CBS Sports predicts that in the 2024 NFL Draft, the Seahawks will choose University of Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy with the 16th overall choice.

Edwards anticipates that the Seahawks will start the 2024 season with a new quarterback in addition to a new head coach.

Edwards states, “Seattle has a ceiling with Geno Smith at quarterback.” Its roster is young, and when the time comes to let go, it doesn’t want to be left holding the bag. With a rookie quarterback and a first-year head coach, it could be time to start again.

Reasons for the Seahawks to Select a New Franchise QB in the Draft
Geno Smith has led the Seahawks to consecutive winning seasons while starting at quarterback. After winning Comeback Player of the Year and earning a spot in the Pro Bowl in 2022, Smith, a seasoned quarterback, inked a three-year, $75 million contract in the offseason.

Looking at Smith’s individual statistics, however, indicates that his performance decreased in 2023. After topping the league in 2022 with a completion rate of 69.3%, that figure declined to 64.7% in 2023, barely ranking in the top 10. Additionally, after securing a wild card spot in 2022, the Seahawks failed to qualify for the playoffs this season, and his throwing touchdown total dropped from 30 to 20.

Why J.J. McCarthy Might Be the Seahawks’ Next Franchise QB
The Seahawks could save over $14 million this season while facing a $17.4 million dead cap charge by trading Smith for rookie McCarthy in the summer, even if doing so would be a huge step forward. The total dead cap impact for Smith would be almost $26 million.

If McCarthy were chosen with the 16th overall pick, his 2024 salary cap charge would be little less than $3 million.

McCarthy has a lengthy college career history at Michigan, where he led the Wolverines to an undefeated season and went on to win the national title this past season. The 21-year-old was 27-1 as the starting quarterback for the Wolverines in his two seasons in that role.

McCarthy is projected by Damian Parson of Draft Network to be a “high-ceiling” quarterback chosen in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft.

According to Parson, McCarthy “projects as a high-ceiling quarterback who has some development to undergo.” “His ability to run and carry out NFL/pro-style principles will be helpful in his NFL transfer. His quickness, ball placement, and arm skill will make him too appealing for clubs to ignore in the first round.

Playmakers like DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba might be able to generate and extend plays thanks to McCarthy’s athleticism, which is a definite advantage over Smith’s lack of mobility as a quarterback.

This season, the Seahawks’ offensive line came in at number 28 in pass blocking. Stated differently, one factor contributing to Smith’s deterioration was their inconsistent performance on the offensive line. Playing with a mobile quarterback helps mask such flaws.