Getty Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll could have a new QB to work with in 2023.
While Seattle Seahawks coaches and players get ready for training camp, general manager John Schneider and the team’s college scouting department are already preparing for the 2023 draft.
In his preseason 2023 mock draft, Walter Football’s Charlie Campbell predicted the Seahawks would select Kentucky’s Will Levis with the fourth pick, finding the team’s long-term replacement for Russell Wilson.
“Seattle takes its new franchise quarterback,” Campbell wrote on July 25. “The 6-foot-3, 232-pound Levis has a cannon for an arm and easy velocity to push the ball downfield…For the NFL, Levis projects as a big-armed pocket passer. He needs to cut down on the interceptions and continue to improve at reading the field in 2022.”
Will Levis’ Rise to Stardom
It took a while for Levis to take the national spotlight in college football, but after a strong 2021 season all eyes are on the Wildcats quarterback to see if he can take another big step next season.
Levis was a 3-star recruit and the second-ranked player in the state of Connecticut coming out of Xavier High School in 2018. Despite offers from a number of prominent programs, including Ole Miss, Florida State, and Iowa, Levis committed to play for the Penn State.
ALL the latest Seahawks news straight to your inbox! Join the Heavy on Seahawks newsletter here!
After redshirting his first college season, Levis struggled to find much of the field playing behind Sean Clifford in 2019 and 2020. Penn State head coach James Franklin primarily used Levis in sub packages as a dual-threat option, with the quarterback finishing his time with the school with 473 career rushing yards.
Looking for an opportunity to be the starter, Levis transferred to Kentucky before the 2021 season. He was named a team captain before he’d even played a down for the Wildcats.
Levis got to show off his big arm with his new team, throwing for 2,826 yards and 24 touchdowns against 13 interceptions in 2021. Levis continued to produce on the ground, too, adding 376 rushing yards and nine touchdowns. Pro Football Network noted his “potential 4.6 speed,” writing that he “shows great burst and speed in the open field and has enough agility to make single cuts.”
Heading into his senior year, Levis will be without with his top weapon, wide receiver Wan’Dale Robinson, who was selected in the second round by the New York Giants. If Levis can produce without his top receiver, then scouts will strongly consider him as a first-round pick in 2023.
Latest Seahawks QB Rumors
So much can change before next April’s draft, and if the Seahawks aren’t interested in waiting for a quarterback prospect, there are a few QBs that the team could make a push for before Week 1.
The biggest name the Seahawks continue to be linked to is rival quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo with the San Francisco 49ers. Seattle is the top projected landing spot for Garoppolo, who was given permission to seek a trade, according to a July 20 NBC Sports report. But with his expensive contract and questions about his health after offseason shoulder surgery, it’s unclear how many realistic suitors for the 30-year-old quarterback there actually are.
Outside of Garoppolo, there are few realistic options for the Seahawks to make a move for. Gardner Minshew has generated some attention as a former Washington State quarterback, but at least one Seahawks analyst has discouraged the team from making a move for the Philadelphia Eagles backup.
If the Seahawks aren’t interested in a trade, then they’ll be heading into the season with either Geno Smith or Drew Lock as their starter under center.