Seahawks Enter the Fray for No. 1 Pick After Carroll's QB Comments Catch Bears' Attention
A novel contender for the first overall pick could have emerged.
Just 15 minutes after Houston Texans GM Nick Caserio hinted that he's satisfied with sticking to the second pick, Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll put himself on the Bears' radar.
"We are completely tied to the quarterbacks who are coming out," said Carroll. "This is a really big chance for us. It's an unusual opportunity for us. We've been drafting in the low 20s for such a long time, you just don't get the chance for these guys. So we're very involved with all of them."
Thanks to last offseason's blockbuster trade that sent Russell Wilson to the Denver Broncos, the Seahawks currently hold the fifth pick.
Quarterback Geno Smith had a fantastic season, with 4,282 yards and 30 touchdowns, earning him the NFL Comeback Player of the Year title. Smith's contract is set to expire on March 15, but Carroll sounded confident that the Seahawks will sign him for a long-term deal.
"We're working hard to keep it going," Carroll said of securing a long-term agreement with Smith. On Tuesday, the Raiders also made an appearance in the race for the top pick.
The Las Vegas Raiders' roster currently only lists Jarrett Stidham and Chase Garbers as quarterbacks. The Raiders were expected to pursue Tom Brady before the seven-time Super Bowl champion announced his retirement. Head coach Josh McDaniels knows he needs to find a long-term option behind center with the Raiders holding the seventh pick in the draft.
«I think there's always urgency at that position,» McDaniels said Tuesday. «The goal for us eventually is to have somebody that's going to be here for a long time."
Assuming the Bears do not find a quarterback during the combine, the best course of action for the franchise would be to trade the first pick and accumulate valuable draft capital. The Texans, Indianapolis Colts, and Carolina Panthers are all thought to be interested in trading up. Following Tuesday's opening statements at the combine, the Seahawks and Raiders may also be joining the mix.
Let the bidding commence...
