APRIL 17: Lock’s return to the Emerald City comes on a two-year pact, as detailed by Over the Cap. The $5MM deal contains $2.25MM locked in at signing (which covers the 2025 season) and includes a $1MM signing bonus. Lock will thus be able to once again operate as a low-cost Seahawks backup, this time with Darnold in place.
APRIL 11: QB dominoes are falling Friday, and a third reunion will take place. After Joe Flacco and Josh Johnson made return trips Friday morning, Drew Lock will follow suit.
The Seahawks are re-signing Lock, per NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero. Lock will slide in as a Sam Darnold backup, doing so after playing mostly a backup role as a Giant in 2024. Lock had served as Geno Smith‘s backup from 2022-23.
Initially obtained as part of the eight-asset package the Broncos sent over for Russell Wilson, Lock did not beat out Smith to win the Seahawks’ starting job in 2022. But he became a player the team viewed as valuable. The Seahawks initially re-signed Lock in 2023, keeping him around (at one year and $4MM) despite choosing Smith as their surefire starter. No QB controversy spawned after Smith seized the role as Wilson’s successor, but Lock stayed on after the expiration of his rookie contract. After a rather forgettable Giants one-off, the six-year veteran is coming back to the Pacific Northwest.
Although Pete Carroll is out, the GM who traded for Lock — John Schneider — is calling the shots as Seattle’s top personnel exec. Lock will play behind Darnold, who signed a three-year, $100.5MM deal to replace Smith days after Seattle traded its three-year starter to Las Vegas.
Lock had been on the Seahawks’ radar to retain in 2024, but Schneider stirred up some controversy by indicating he signed with the Giants (one year, $5MM) due partially to being told he could compete for a starting job. Big Blue pushed back on that, not seriously considering a Daniel Jones demotion during the ’24 offseason. But Lock did make his way into the lineup, as the team ultimately did jettison Jones after a six-year partnership fizzled.
Lock’s decision to rejoin the Seahawks hours after Flacco recommitted to the Browns may not be a coincidence. It is certainly possible Cleveland looked at Lock as a potential bridge starter, as he has a bit more experience at the controls than Kenny Pickett. Though, Lock has not been looked at as a preferred starter since the Broncos replaced him with Teddy Bridgewater in 2021. Given a quick hook in Denver, the former second-round pick still has made 28 career starts. A rather notable outing took place last December, helping Lock finalize his case for another QB2 gig.
In a game that dropped the Giants out of the No. 1 draft slot, Lock sliced up the Colts in a shootout win. He completed 17 of 23 passes for 309 yards and four touchdown passes. Lock did not throw an interception against Indianapolis, and while the win looks to have blocked the Giants from solving their QB problem with Cam Ward, it helped Lock secure another opportunity. He will join 2024 trade acquisition Sam Howell on Seattle’s roster. Considering Howell started 17 games for the 2023 Commanders, this represents a gradual fall for the North Carolina product.
Lock, 28, was 1-4 as a starter last season; the Giants initially went with Tommy DeVito over the veteran upon benching Jones. As a Seahawk, Lock went 1-1 as a starter. The win came during a Monday-night game against a cratering Eagles defense, but Lock has been a streaky passer — one prone to INTs — throughout his career. Like fellow Mizzou alums Chase Daniel and Blaine Gabbert, he continues to secure regular QB2 employment.
The legend returns
Interesting choice. I’m shocked no calls to Las Vegas or saints to win a backup job?
Are you really shocked? Raiders have a capable backup in Aidan O’Connell. He’s a notch better than lock IMO. Plus he’s cheaper too.
True but going back to Seattle is still interesting it’s not even the same staff that had him last time.
I would have told my agent to call saints. If Carr goes down again I’d take lock over rattler any day of the week.
That I could see (to the saints). But Pete has a far better backup in Aidan than Lock. Just doesn’t make sense in LV. Plus they will draft a QB too. I’m guessing in the later rounds. The raiders QB room (including backup) is better than Den and LA. KC is the one team that has it better. Obviously Mahomes and Gardner is far better than what we saw last year. Getsy really stuck it up in terms of scheme etc.
“Far better” might be a stretch. O’Connell is fine but nothing special. He doesn’t have the tools to go out and will a team to win ballgames. There’s a handful of guys I would prefer as my QB2.
You must be a “hawks “ fan. Aidan has a career 7-10 record. 20 TDs -11 INts. Had some great games against KC too, who were the AFC champions. Lock is 10-18 all time. 34 TDs -28 yes 28 INTs. I’d rather have Aidan than lock as QB2. Gotta remember Aidan has only been in the league 2 years and hs had 4 OCs. His record and stats aren’t bad considering that. I’m not saying he’s elite QB2 (but he’s close). I’m just saying he’s far better than lock.
Nope. I’m from Seattle but a Jets fan, which has made me despise the Seahawks. Note that I never said Lock was better than O’Connell, just that O’Connell being “far better” than Lock is a stretch. I absolutely think O’Connell is better in 2025 (but career stats are irrelevant to current abilities); however, the difference between QB33 and QB64 is so much smaller than the difference between QB1 and QB32 that I disagree that he’s “far better.”
Almost every analysis and ranking of backup QBs will come down to personal preferences. O’Connell is a quality backup, but he’s flawed and likely won’t go out and put the team on his back. Guys like Flacco and Winston might throw you out of a game but they can also throw you right back into it.
There’s still stuff to find out about Rattler. There’s nothing to find out about Lock. Besides, if Carr goes down, they might as well either see if Rattler has something or tank if he doesn’t. It’s not like that team is going anywhere.
Tell that to saints fans lmao
One of my best friends is a lifelong Saints fan. Definitely not the most realistic fan I know. I remember him telling me in 2022 that the Saints would be a perennial contender again if they traded for Watson. Oops. But the guy introduced me to my wife, so I try to be nice about his team… to his face, not on here.
Lmao fair enough
Lock is a under backup and well paid for it.
Sam Howell’s stock is doing even worse than actual stocks.
Howell landed Washington Jayden Daniels. He was then traded to Seattle for a fourth round pick after being selected in the fifth round of his own draft and going 3-14 as a starter and delivering the second overall pick to Washington. Howell might be one of the best QBs in Commander’s history!
Am I the only one who is a little surprised at this? I know he wasn’t great and held onto the ball way too long. But he was willing to air it out and he put up almost 4,000 yards on a team with very few weapons in what was essentially his rookie season. If not for a brutal stretch to end 2023, he might have come close to leading the league in yards.
I get that he had to pass a lot because Washington was always losing, but at one point he was 4-8 with a horrible team around him. Maybe he’s not starting quality but I’d take a wild card like that as my backup over someone like Lock.
I think his counting stats have a lot to do with Washington’s defense giving up the most points in football, yeah, and his sack issues might be terminal, but I think taking him over Drew Lock is a reasonable amount of belief in him. At the same time, he looked godawful when he came in last year.
@rct I think midway through the season he was leader in QBR.
If I’m the Saints I’m calling to see if Howell is available.
Drew Lock’s stock blowing up like Tesla charging stations.