Next phase of Seahawks offseason most important for QB Drew Lock

The Seahawks are about to enter the third phase of organized team activities (OTAs), and it’s a pretty important one for a team in their position.

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Seattle is in a bit of a rebuilding mode after parting ways with quarterback Russell Wilson, and there’s one player related to that huge change that Seattle Sports Station’s Jake Heaps says needs to maximize his team in that next phase the most.

“Drew Lock needs this time more than any other Seahawk,” Heaps told co-host Stacy Rost during Monday’s edition of Jake and Stacy.

Lock was part of the return from the Denver Broncos in their trade of Wilson, and he will battle returning backup Geno Smith to succeed Wilson as the Seahawks’ starting quarterback. Smith, 31, has the benefit of spending the past three seasons with Seattle, even appearing in four games and starting three while Wilson was injured in 2021. The 25-year-old Lock, meanwhile, had mixed results in his three years in Denver, resulting in him playing six games and starting just three last season.

Phase 3 of OTAs consists of up to 10 days of what are basically non-contact practices, but it will allow Lock to go up against Seattle’s defense, which Heaps says will be especially valuable for him.

“As they start going up against the defense and they actually start practicing in a somewhat real manner, now it’s Drew Lock’s opportunity to not only learn the system but to put it to practice,” Heaps said. “Now to go up against the defense and actually make reads, to make decisions and to show that this organization can trust him and his decision-making ability. Also to develop the chemistry with (offensive coordiator) Shane Waldron, with this offense, and with the skill position players that he will be throwing to. So this is a very important time for Drew Lock.

“Geno Smith has been here. He knows this offense. He knows what the expectations are from (Seahawks coach) Pete Carroll and this offensive staff. Drew Lock is learning all of this and trying to grow through this, and this is a very, very important time before you get to training camp.”

Heaps also said the time period should go a long way in helping Lock to get used to his new surroundings.

“He just needs to be inundated with this environment here in Seattle,” Heaps said. “He needs to be able to soak up all of that positive work environment that he is going to be in every single day – and that he has been in with Pete Carroll and (Seahawks general manager) John Schneider. I’ve heard that Drew Lock is enjoying every bit of this, that it has been such a huge difference for him here in Seattle (compared to) his time in Denver, which is great. But also learning and understanding what the expectations for him as a player is, how he operates at the quarterback position, what they want him to do, how they want him to fix some of the weaknesses in his game, and how they’re going to best set him up for success.”

You can listen to Jake and Stacy live from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday on Seattle Sports Station 710 AM, and find podcasts of the show at this link an hour after each episode.

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