Seahawks 90-Man Countdown: QB Drew Lock - Top-Tier Backup?

Despite losing the competition to replace Russell Wilson last summer, the Seattle Seahawks happily welcomed back Drew Lock in free agency for a second season to continue developing behind Geno Smith as a top-tier backup quarterback.

Corbin K. Smith | Jul 2, 2023

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Seattle Seahawks

With the calendar flipping to July and offseason activities in the rearview mirror, the Seattle Seahawks will open training camp at the VMAC later this month, officially ushering in the 2023 season.

To celebrate the new incoming season, we'll be detailing every member of the Seahawks 90-man roster over the next several weeks, exploring best and worst case scenarios and what to expect from each player entering the 2023 campaign.

Drew Lock, Quarterback

Height/Weight: 6-4, 228 pounds

2022 Stats*: 273 passing yards, three touchdowns, three interceptions

*Preseason stats per Pro Football Focus

Originally entering the NFL as a second-round pick for the Broncos in 2019, Lock showed promise as a rookie, throwing seven touchdown passes while posting a 4-1 record in five starts. However, he didn't develop as the franchise envisioned, leading the league with 15 interceptions in 2020 and losing a competition to Teddy Bridgewater before the 2021 season. Seeking an upgrade, he was included as part of the package to acquire Russell Wilson from the Seahawks, giving the talented signal caller a fresh start and another chance to compete for a starting job.

While Lock did flash at times during Seattle's offseason program and training camp, Geno Smith firmly controlled the competition from the outset and thrived, earning Comeback Player of the Year honors and making his first Pro Bowl. Impressing with his work ethic behind the scenes, though he didn't play any regular season snaps, the team re-signed him to a one-year contract to once again serve as a backup and continue his development in Shane Waldron's offense in 2023.

Best-Case Scenario: Slinging the pigskin all over the yard during the preseason for the Seahawks and in full command of Waldron's offense in his second season with the franchise, Lock doesn't struggle with the turnover issues that have plagued him in his first four NFL seasons and puts enough stellar play on film to position himself to receive another shot to compete for a starting quarterback job elsewhere in 2024.

Worst-Case Scenario: Uncorking several head-scratching throws during the preseason that result in picks, Lock takes a clear step back and though the Seahawks invested decent money bringing him back, undrafted rookie Holton Ahlers surprisingly beats him out for the backup quarterback job and the veteran is an unexpected inclusion in final roster cuts.

What to Expect in 2023: As is the case with any backup quarterback in the NFL, while it isn't a slight to his talent, the Seahawks will be keeping fingers crossed Lock won't have to throw any meaningful passes during the 2023 season. With Smith firmly entrenched as the starter coming off a career year and a new three-year contract in hand, a perfect scenario for both the player and team would be winning a few games in convincing blowout fashion where they are able to give the 26-year old some snaps in fourth quarter garbage time.

But after seeing him make positive progress on the practice field last fall and handle losing the quarterback competition with maturity, the coaching staff has plenty of confidence in Lock if Smith gets banged up and Seattle needs him to step into the lineup under center. With 21 career starts and 25 touchdown passes to his name and top-notch physical tools that he has flashed in spurts, including underrated mobility, his presence on the roster provides the team with a superior backup option compared to most other teams in the league should his number be called at some point.

Previous Seahawks 90-Man Profiles

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Published Jul 2, 2023

CORBIN K. SMITH

Graduating from Manchester College in 2012, Smith began his professional career as a high school Economics teacher in Indianapolis and launched his own NFL website covering the Seahawks as a hobby. After teaching and coaching high school football for five years, he transitioned to a full-time sports reporter in 2017, writing for USA Today's Seahawks Wire while continuing to produce the Legion of 12 podcast. He joined the Arena Group in August 2018 and also currently hosts the daily Locked On Seahawks podcast with Rob Rang and Nick Lee. Away from his coverage of the Seahawks and the NFL, Smith dabbles in standup comedy, is a heavy metal enthusiast and previously performed as lead vocalist for a metal band, and enjoys distance running and weight lifting. A habitual commuter, he resides with his wife Natalia in Colorado and spends extensive time reporting from his second residence in the Pacific Northwest.