Seattle Seahawks Ex Says Team Should Take Aaron Rodgers Route in NFL Draft

Former Seattle Seahawks running back Robert Turbin sees value in the franchise taking a quarterback in the upcoming draft.

Sep 11, 2023; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) / Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

The Seattle Seahawks quarterback position is delicately poised. Geno Smith is the starter for Ryan Grubb this season, but what happens after that is up in the air.

Smith could continue for another season, although the Seahawks would save $25 million if they make him a post-June 1 cut in 2025. Then there's Sam Howell, the quarterback Seattle traded for earlier this offseason from the Washington Commanders.

There's a thought that Howell would serve as Geno's backup in 2024, and then depending on how the season transpires, could usurp Smith as the starter in 2025. But then there's another avenue.

The Seahawks hold the No. 16 overall pick and some predict the franchise taking a quarterback. While selecting one that high is likely out of the question for Mike Macdonald given the QB moves the team has made this offseason, in the later rounds it might not be so farfetched.

Dec 17, 2023; Inglewood, California, USA; Washington Commanders quarterback Sam Howell (14) / Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

For former Seahawks running back Robert Turbin, taking a quarterback in this year's class is important for the future of the organization.

“I don’t think they have to draft somebody high just because I think that Geno can still be the starter this season and maybe even beyond,” Turbin said on Seattle Sports’ Bump and Stacy. “But getting a guy that you could develop the way that Mahomes did, the way that Jordan Love did, Aaron Rodgers and some others, I think would be important for Seattle’s future.”

So, which quarterbacks could the Seahawks realistically draft? Michael Penix Jr., Bo Nix, Spencer Rattler are all names that have been thrown in as potential options.

With Smith, Howell and then a rookie quarterback, Grubb will have options moving forward and perhaps the best thing about drafting a quarterback now, is that they can sit behind Smith and Howell for a year.

That kind of development would be hugely beneficial and, as Turbin says, is important going forward for the franchise.

There are many avenues for the Seahawks to go down regarding the quarterback position. While Geno is the starter, in 12 months, the landscape could look vastly different.

As the saying goes, you draft a quarterback when you don't need one, and for the Seahawks, the 2024 draft might be the time that they find their next franchise quarterback.