The Seattle Seahawks have made the decision to move on from Pete Carroll as the team’s head coach. Carroll will remain with the team in an advisory role, but his 14-year stint running the Seahawks’ show is over.
The move could have a big impact on what the Seahawks do in the 2024 NFL draft. Specifically, the concept of drafting a quarterback with the No. 16 overall pick could be a stronger option now that Carroll is out.
Geno Smith has two years remaining on his contract and was a Carroll favorite. The Seahawks can get out of the deal by eating a combined $26.1 million in dead salary cap room over the next two seasons, while also earning some cap relief both years. Backup Drew Lock is an unrestricted free agent.
Should a new head coach want to start fresh with a different quarterback than the 33-year-old Smith, the opportunity is there. Oregon’s Bo Nix, Michael Penix Jr. from Washington and J.J. McCarthy from Michigan are all viable prospects who project in that range right now.
With Lock a free agent and Sean Mannion as the current No. 3 QB, there is also an opportunity to draft a more developmental-type and have him groom under Smith for a year or two. That possibility was there even if Carroll remained as head coach.
Seattle has other needs as well, of course. And without knowing who the new coach or coordinator will be, it’s impossible to know what direction the Seahawks look. But it does seem that quarterback would be more in play now than it would have been with Carroll still coaching.