Seahawks sign WSU QB Anthony Gordon, UW WR Aaron Fuller, 3 others as rookie free agents
The newest Seahawks are locally grown: a Cougar and a Husky.
Seattle on Friday officially signed five rookie free agents, including quarterback Anthony Gordon from Washington State and wide receiver Aaron Fuller.
Gordon set a Pac-12 record with 48 touchdown passes for the Cougars last season, his only one as a starter for coach Mike Leach’s Air Raid offense on the Palouse.
For now, Gordon is the only other quarterback on the Seahawks roster besides $140-million Russell Wilson.
It is unlikely to stay that way.
Coach Pete Carroll and general manager John Schneider have opted for a primary backup that has NFL starting experience in each of the last three seasons: Austin Davis in 2017, Brett Hundley in 2018 and Geno Smith last year. That is just in case; Wilson has yet to miss an in-season practice let alone a game in his eight seasons in the league.
Cam Newton is among the former starting quarterbacks available in free agency. Asked by KJR-AM radio Thursday about that, Schneider reminded “we are in on everything” regarding exploring possible additions and deals.
“We do have to address the backup-quarterback situation,” Schneider told KJR. “But that’s one along the way we were able to sign Gordon from Washington State, who we are very excited about.”
The 5-foot-11 Fuller led the Huskies in receptions in 2018 and again last season. He was also UW’s primary punt returner. The Seahawks are looking for punt returners to lessen the burden lead wide receiver Tyler Lockett has had for five seasons. That’s why they drafted wide receiver Freddie Swain from Florida in the sixth round last weekend.
The Seahawks also signed as rookie free agents offensive tackle Tommy Champion from Mississippi State, defensive end Eli Mencer from Albany and defensive back Debione Renfroe.
Gordon is trying to join a recent wave of Air Raid quarterbacks changing the perception passers from that college offense can’t make it in the NFL. Those are Gardner Minshew, Nick Foles, Jared Goff and now Patrick Mahomes of the reigning Super Bowl-champion Kansas City Chiefs.
That’s Gordon’s predecessor as Washington State in Minshew, who is now Jacksonville’s starter, plus starting QBs in the last three Super Bowls.
“Right. The whole Air Raid-quarterback stigma has kind of been getting broken down the last few years,” Gordon said at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis in February.
“I think the last few years there’s been a Super Bowl representative from the Air Raid, each of the last three years. Very fortunate for the guys that have been breaking that stigma down.”
He’s right. Foles with the Philadelphia Eagles, Goff last year for the Los Angeles Rams and Mahomes in January have been Super Bowl quarterbacks the last three seasons after playing in the Air Raid in college.
“You know, Gardner’s has been doing a great job breaking that down, as well,” Gordon said.
Gordon’s record-setting passing last season in his only year as WSU’s starter impressed Schneider and Seahawks scouts enough that he is currently number two on Seattle’s offseason depth chart.
For now.
KJR host Dave Mahler asked Schneider Thursday if the Seahawks would take a look at Newton, Carolina’s former Super Bowl quarterback. The Panthers’ new regime disposed of this spring.
Andy Dalton got released by the Cincinnati Bengals this week, but news Saturday night was he had agreed to a one-year, $7 million contract with his home-state Dallas Cowboys.
“Well, we’ll look at everything. We never say no to anything,” Schneider said.
“You know, we go all the way to the wire with everybody, every deal that we’re in. So, we’ll poke our head around, with everything.”
Seattle has still drafted only two quarterbacks in the 10 years Schneider and Carroll have been running the franchise: Wilson in the third round in 2012, and Alex McGough in the seventh round in 2018. He spent his rookie year on Seattle’s practice squad. He is currently on the Houston Texas’ offseason roster.
Asked by KJR’s Dick Fain if the Seahawks thought about drafting a quarterback last weekend, Schneider said: “Yeah.
“The quarterback and the head coach are the most important people in the building.”
Schneider said his approach with the Seahawks is what is it was when he was a personnel executive with his hometown Green Bay Packers immediately prior to becoming Seattle’s GM in January 2010: seek a quarterback in every draft.
“It just so happens our last two drafts we haven’t necessarily found that guy, in relation to other positions,” he said.
This story was originally published May 2, 2020 at 1:20 PM.
