Just one, undrafted QB in rookie minicamp. Seahawks want to see what Drew Lock can be
By now it’s become obvious the Seahawks want to see what Drew Lock can be for them.
This weekend is further proof of that.
The 24-year-old quarterback Seattle acquired from Denver as part of the mammoth trade of Russell Wilson to the Broncos in March isn’t going to get much competition on the Seahawks’ field Friday, Saturday and Sunday during their rookie minicamp.
Seattle didn’t draft a quarterback last week to replace Wilson with any of its nine selections. The team has just one QB on its rookie minicamp roster this weekend.
That’s Levi Lewis. Lewis, who turns 24 Monday, an undrafted free agent the Seahawks officially announced as signed on Friday.
He is 5 feet 10, from the University of Louisiana in Lafayette and the Sun Belt Conference. Last season he led his Ragin’ Cajuns back from an opening loss at Texas to 13 consecutive wins and a bowl-game victory. Lewis broke former Super Bowl quarterback Jake Delhomme’s Louisiana school record for career touchdown passes.
Lewis is one of 14 undrafted free agents Seattle announced as signed Friday. The others:
- safety Joey Blount, Virginia
- safety Bubba Bolden, Miami
- tight end Cade Brewer, Texas
- guard Shamarious Gilmore, Georgia State
- defensive tackle Matt Gotel, West Florida
- wide receiver Jake Herslow, Houston
- linebacker Levi Jones, North Carolina State
- tight end John Mitchell, Florida Atlantic
- safety Scott Nelson, Wisconsin
- linebacker Josh Onujiogu, Framingham State
- wide receiver Demetris Robertson, Auburn
- cornerback Josh Valentine-Turner, Florida International
- safety Deontai Williams, Nebraska
The Seahawks also signed four of their nine rookie draft choices. Their salaries are slotted by the NFL’s collective bargaining agreement with their players. The draft picks signed this week:
fifth-round choice Tyreke Smith, edge rusher, Ohio State
fifth-round pick Tariq Woolen, cornerback, Texas-San Antonio
seventh-round selection Bo Melton, wide receiver, Rutgers
seventh-round pick Dareke Young, wide receiver, Lenoir-Rhyne
Lewis is the only quarterback on the roster for the rookie minicamp. The Seahawks can have other passers in on a tryout basis. Typically a dozen or more rookies come in for tryouts in this minicamp, and a couple often then sign with Seattle for more chances in spring workouts and into summer training camp.
Jacob Eason played his only NFL game last season for Indianapolis before he signed with the Seahawks. That makes him ineligible by league rules to participate in rookie minicamp. The former Lake Stevens High School and University of Washington QB is the third of four passers on Seattle’s roster.
The Seahawks signed back 31-year-old veteran Geno Smith last month. The former starter for the New York Jets was Wilson’s backup the last three seasons. He signed back with his best chance yet to be the full-time starter in Seattle.
But it’s becoming apparent he will have to beat out Lock, while Lock may have to falter beginning in training camp in late July for Smith to be the team’s starter in the opening game.
Lock was 8-13 in parts of three seasons starting in Denver.
The Seahawks know what they have in Smith. Coach Pete Carroll has gotten a first impression of Lock the last three weeks during the first phases of the Seahawks’ offseason workout program. This week was the first when veterans could be on the field passing, catching and doing positional work without helmets.
“He’s really excited about the energy of our club...Very comfortable (and) very open to say that,” Carroll said.
The coach added: “He’s got a new lease of life” in the NFL.
This story was originally published May 6, 2022 at 12:38 PM.
