Bumpus: If Seahawks feel they’re a QB away, get Garoppolo, not Mayfield

With the Seahawks having traded Russell Wilson and not having his clear replacement for the 2022 season, all eyes are on what they will do at quarterback for the upcoming campaign.

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The two frontrunners to succeed Wilson are Geno Smith, Wilson’s backup the last three seasons, and 2019 second-round pick Drew Lock, who was acquired from the Denver Broncos in the package for Wilson. If it’s not one of those two, the common name that has been discussed is Baker Mayfield, the 2018 No. 1 overall pick who needs a new team since the Cleveland Browns traded for Deshaun Watson and inked him to a long-term deal.

But what about a different veteran quarterback? Louis Riddick, a former NFL executive who works for ESPN, recently brought up that he thinks Seahawks should consider adding Jimmy Garoppolo of the San Francisco 49ers.

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“He can throw as pretty of a pass as anyone in the NFL,” Riddick said of Garoppolo on Friday’s edition of ESPN’s NFL Live, “and with some of the weapons that they have out there – when you think of (wide receivers) Tyler Lockett, DK Metcalf, (tight end) Noah Fant, two good running backs, (they) just drafted two bookend offensive tackles, (they’re) building up the defense – Jimmy G is like the piece that they’re missing. Seattle’s setting the table for some quarterback in the next year or two. If it’s not Drew Luck or Geno Smith, which it ain’t gonna be… someone’s going to inherit a football team that has quietly set themselves up.”

Garoppolo is expected to eventually land on a new team in 2022 because the 49ers drafted Trey Lance third overall last year. Garoppolo, like Mayfield, could be traded, but because of his large annual contract it’s likely he’ll be released, meaning he could be free to sign with the Seahawks or any other team.

During a Tuesday morning conversation on Seattle Sports 710 AM’s Mike Salk Show, former NFL wide receiver Michael Bumpus explained why the Seahawks adding Garoppolo to the mix may be in the best interest of the franchise.

“If you get Jimmy, I think it’s a bigger upgrade to getting Baker,” Bumpus told Salk. “And I think that because I just look at the history of these guys and their résumé and what they’ve done in the NFL.”

Mayfield led the Browns to the postseason in 2020, but Garoppolo helped lead the 49ers to the Super Bowl in 2019 as well as an NFC Championship Game berth last season. He also has better overall numbers in his career than Mayfield.

Some think the Seahawks should avoid adding an established quarterback and “tank” to get a high pick in next year’s draft to find their next long-term quarterback. Bumpus isn’t sure that’s in the cards for general manager John Schneider, coach Pete Carroll and the Seahawks franchise.

“That’s not in John Schneider and Pete Carroll’s DNA,” he said. “They don’t come out and get ready for football season to prepare to lose. They prepare to win.”

Bumpus also thinks that the Seahawks have good pieces on their offense, pointing to the running back room, a young offensive line and a star receiver duo of Metcalf and Lockett.

“It’s not like this offense is going to come out and just be horrible. Now, you don’t really know, right? We have to go out there and see what they do,” he said. “But on paper, these guys look like they’re just missing a quarterback to be competitive. And how many wins does Jimmy Garoppolo equate? Does he get you seven, does he get you 10 wins?”

Bumpus isn’t sure rolling with Smith or Lock means the Seahawks will have a top 10 pick in 2023, either, but he did add that Garoppolo could be a big addition depending on how the franchise views the overall roster.

“It’s all about how they view their team right now, man,” Bumpus said. “If they think they’re a quarterback away, I think you go after Jimmy.”

Listen to the full third hour of Tuesday’s Mike Salk Show at this link or in the player below.

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