Seahawks GM John Schneider addresses strong draft grades, QB situation, K.J. Wright

With the 2022 NFL Draft in the rearview mirror and rookie minicamp wrapped up, Seahawks general manager John Schneider was able to join Seattle Sports 710 AM’s Wyman and Bob to discuss his team and Seattle’s newest players Monday afternoon.

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During the visit, Schneider discussed the public perception around the Seahawks’ draft class, the state of the quarterback room, and whether the team may be bringing back a franchise legend.

Here’s a breakdown of what he said about each of those topics in his conversation with Dave Wyman and Bob Stelton.

Well-regarded draft class

The Seahawks’ nine-man draft class has been lauded by many analysts and draft experts, something that hasn’t really been the case after the last few drafts for Seattle.

Does Schneider keep an eye on what the media thinks of Seattle’s draft classes?

“I’d be lying to you if I told you I didn’t pay attention to it, like on your report card when you’ve got a test, right?” he said.

So why did the Seahawks have such a good draft in people’s eyes?

“People may have felt that way because they knew the names, maybe. We didn’t push guys,” he said. “We did a good job of staying disciplined in that regard. Sometimes you can push guys based on need … And we didn’t move around a ton, too, so guys’ names were coming off and every time we were getting ready to pick, we were kind of sweating it out and waiting for a guy to get there. … It just kind of came off the way it was supposed to or like the way the media thought it would.”

QB situation

Seattle added players at key positions of need in the 2022 NFL Draft. What the Seahawks didn’t do, however, was select a quarterback like many had expected.

Does that mean the Seahawks are done adding to that position group this offseason?

“We’re always looking to see what the landscape looks like especially at that position,” Schneider said. “We always talk about the quarterback and the head coach being the most important people in the building, so you’re constantly evaluating and watching and seeing what’s happening throughout the National Football League.”

That being said, Schneider said Seattle has “a lot of confidence” in the quarterbacks currently on the roster, which includes veterans Geno Smith and Drew Lock as well as the team’s third-string quarterback in 2021, Jacob Eason.

“I mean, Jacob Eason can throw it around the park like crazy and so can Drew and Geno,” Schneider said. “So we have confidence in those guys and we’ll keep looking and see what’s going on.”

K.J. Wright coming home?

Along with quarterback, the Seahawks passed on taking a traditional linebacker in this year’s draft (they list Boye Mafe and Tyreke Smith as linebackers though they are expected to primarily be pass rushers).

Could that lead to a reunion with an old friend in K.J. Wright?

Wright, 32, was with the Seahawks from 2011-20 as a star outside linebacker before playing for the Las Vegas Raiders last season. Wright recently told Trey Wingo on the Half-Forgotten History podcast that he wants to return to Seattle.

“I want to go back home,” Wright said last week. “I think it’s that simple. Seattle knows that I want to come back. They know how much they mean to me.”

Head coach Pete Carroll was asked by reporters at rookie minicamp about Wright potentially returning to the Seahawks.

“I love K.J.,” Carroll said. “I’ve already talked to him about stuff for the future and all that. I did hear that he talked about playing, and we’ve already talked about that.”

So what does Schneider have to say about the potential of bringing Wright back to the Seahawks?

“He’s an amazing person,” he told Wyman and Bob. “Both Pete and I met with him this offseason and he’s trying to figure some things out, too, and as are we.”

Schneider called Wright a “high, high character guy,” and while he didn’t seem to think Wright playing for the Seahawks was in the cards, he’s open to him coming back in another capacity.

“(It would) probably be in some sort of non-playing role,” he said.

Listen to the full interview with Schneider at this link or in the player below.

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