BROCK AND SALK

Bumpus: If Seahawks draft a QB, it should be 3rd round or later

Feb 22, 2023, 1:08 PM

Seahawks 2018 NFL Draft...

The Seattle Seahawks logo is seen during the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

(Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

What will the Seahawks do at quarterback this offseason? That’s certainly the big question with the team right now.

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Geno Smith was a Pro Bowler, but he’s a free agent after a career year. Also a free agent is Smith’s backup, Drew Lock.

The Seahawks can certainly bring back one or both of their 2022 QBs, but they also have four picks in the first two rounds, including the No. 5 overall selection and an additional first-rounder at 20th overall.

So should the Seahawks draft a quarterback this year? And what about if Smith comes back? Former NFL receiver Michael Bumpus, who hosts Seattle Sports’ Bump and Stacy, answered that question while hopping on Brock and Salk with Mike Salk on Wednesday.

“This is such a complicated answer for me. I go back and forth. Every week, I change my mind,” Bumpus said.

Ultimately, most of it comes down to what happens with Smith, Bump said.

“What you do with Geno determines how high you draft a quarterback,” he said. “I think you probably need to bring somebody in.”

While Bumpus thinks the Seahawks should ultimately draft a quarterback, he doesn’t want to see them use one of their premier picks on a new signal-caller.

“I would like to see it in the later rounds – the third round or after that,” he said. “I think with your first two to three picks, you’ve got to address this defense. But Geno’s not gonna be to be the five- or six-year guy at this quarterback spot. He’s the guy to fill a void and keep these guys competitive over the (next few) years. So you need somebody to come in.”

The Seahawks are reportedly very high on Lock, and Bumpus said “I get it” if they want to bring him back for 2023.

“But I really think it’s time to go get a younger guy,” he said. “I don’t want to see it early, especially the first two picks – they’ve got to go heavy on defense – and maybe even that third pick at 37. I think there are other holes with this team that need to be filled. But eventually you do get a quarterback and see if you can strike gold (later in the draft) like they did with (Russell Wilson in 2012).”

Listen to the second hour of Wednesday’s Brock and Salk at this link or in the player below.

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