Seattle Seahawks helmet shown on field.Seattle Seahawks helmet (Photo by Sebastian Widmann/Getty Images)
The Seattle Seahawks have added a veteran quarterback to their roster ahead of mandatory minicamp that begins next week.

According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Seattle Seahawks GM John Schneider announced that the team has signed veteran quarterback PJ Walker, adding insurance behind starter Geno Smith and second-stringer Sam Howell.

The 29-year-old signed with the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent in 2017, but the Temple product didn’t play a single game with them. He joined the Carolina Panthers in 2020 and appeared in 15 games (seven starts) over his three seasons there.

Walker went 4-3 as the Panthers’ starting quarterback, tossing 1,461 yards and five touchdowns against 11 interceptions. This included a 21-3 blowout win over Tom Brady’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 7 of the 2022 season.

Many wondered if the Seattle Seahawks would draft a quarterback this year, but they decided to run it back with Smith. They replaced backup Drew Lock (signed with the New York Giants), with Howell, who was acquired in a trade with the Washington Commanders.

Walker started two games for the Cleveland Browns last season in place of an injured Deshaun Watson. He went 1-1 and had one touchdown vs. five interceptions in six game appearances.

Seattle Seahawks Shore Up QB Depth Chart

As the San Francisco 49ers showed with Brock Purdy in 2022 (following season-ending injuries to Jimmy Garoppolo and Trey Lance), you can never have too much quarterback depth in the NFL.

Teams can never predict injuries to players, nor can they forecast when their QB1 and/or QB2 may decline in production. The Seahawks managed to turn Smith’s career around, so who’s to say they couldn’t make it worth with PJ Walker if he’s thrust into the starting job?

It’s a no-risk signing for the Seahawks, who now carry three QBs on their roster heading into mandatory minicamp.

AFC Contender Lands Seahawks Star WR Tyler Lockett In Massive Trade Proposal That Would Make Their Passing Game Unstoppable

Tyler Lockett of Seattle Seahawks looking on. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
If the Seattle Seahawks decide to begin a hard reset under first-year head coach Mike Macdonald, then star wide receiver Tyler Lockett should emerge as a top trade candidate.

The Seahawks have already bid farewell to franchise legend Bobby Wagner (signed with Washington) and former Pro Bowl safeties Quandre Diggs and Jamal Adams. With Tyler Lockett about to enter his age-32 season, the Seahawks should at least gauge his value on the trade market.

Seattle already has a superstar wide receiver in D.K. Metcalf, and 2023 first-round pick Jaxon Smith-Njigba seems poised for a bigger role in 2023. That leaves Tyler Lockett expendable with just two years remaining on his deal.

 

If Seattle is willing to unload Lockett, then there’s one team in the AFC that especially stands out as a landing spot for his services: The revamped Aaron Rodgers-led New York Jets.

The Jets signed ex-Los Angeles Chargers star Mike Williams to a one-year deal last week to fill their WR2 void. Williams and young star Garrett Wilson should be an explosive tandem together, but what if the Jets added one more game-wrecker to take this offense to another level?

What A Tyler Lockett Trade Could Look Like

The Jets are strictly in win-now mode with Rodgers turning 41 years of age in December. The long-term future is not the focus right now, and that’s why general manager Joe Douglas shouldn’t be nervous to overpay a little for Tyler Lockett if necessary.

Lockett has an awfully high cap hit of $18.55 million for 2024, per OvertheCap.com. That number jumps to $30.895 million for 2025, when Lockett will be 33 years of age. It just doesn’t make sense for a retooling Seattle team to pay Lockett that much.

The Jets should offer their 2024 third-round pick (No. 72 overall) to Seattle in exchange for Lockett. That’s a fair price for a consistent 1,000-yard threat who would greatly bolster the Jets’ Super Bowl chances over the next two years.