In Russell Wilson, the Seahawks have one of the best young quarterbacks in the NFL. Behind him, they have no experienced or otherwise established presence.
Beyond Wilson, the only other quarterbacks currently on the roster are B.J. Daniels and R.J. Archer.
Daniels, a seventh-round pick of the 49ers in 2013, arrived via waivers in October of that year. Later cut from the active roster, Daniels spent all of 2013 and most of 2014 on the practice squad.
Archer spent time with the Vikings in 2010. He has since bounced around various leagues, playing for the AFL’s Milwaukee Mustangs in 2011, the AFL’s Georgia Force in 2012, the Lions in 2012, the CFL’s Winnipeg Blue Bombers in 2012, and the AFL’s Jacksonville Sharks in 2013 and 2014.
Coach Pete Carroll has said that Daniels could be used as a receiver and returner in 2015, which makes it even more important to have a competent and experienced understudy for Wilson. That’s been Tarvaris Jackson for the last two years, and it could be Jackson again in 2015.
But the free agent remains unsigned. Per a league source, the two sides have yet to be able to agree on Jackson’s value. Last year, Jackson made $1.25 million, nearly twice the amount of Wilson’s base salary of $662,000.
This year, Wilson eventually could be making a lot more. Which will pinch the budget for the rest of the depth chart.
Regardless, it’ll be important to have someone behind Wilson who can play at a high level, in the event Wilson is injured. There aren’t many viable alternatives to Jackson, especially in light of the team’s approach on offense. Given the team’s style, maybe Seattle can be the eventual landing spot for Mike Vick.