Drew Lock is Ranked No. 17 Among Backup QBs, And It's a Wildcard for Our Championship Aspirations

Alright 12s, let's talk real. You bleed green and blue like I do, so you know every player on this squad matters, especially when we're chasing those championship dreams. Buckle up, because SI.com recently dropped their NFL QB2 power rankings, and our man Drew Lock, the guy we're trusting behind Sam Darnold, landed right in the middle of the pack at No. 17. Is that a good thing? A bad thing? Let's dive into what this truly means for the Seahawks this year.

The Manzano Report Card for Our QB2

So, Drew Lock, who came to us in that massive Russell Wilson trade back in 2022, has had quite the journey, right? He was a second-round pick in 2019, started 21 games in Denver, then got his shot to start here. He couldn't beat out Geno Smith at the time, backed him up for two years, then dipped to the New York Giants in 2024. But guess what? GM John Schneider brought him back in 2025 on a two-year deal, and he even held off rookie Jalen Milroe to secure that No. 2 spot last year. Clearly, the organization has belief in Lock. But not everyone is as high on him. SI.com's Gilberto Manzano recently dropped his QB2 NFL power rankings, and Lock found himself right in the middle tier, clocking in at No. 17. Manzano did acknowledge that the Seahawks clearly like what they see. He even gave a shout-out to that incredible comeback win against the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday Night Football in 2023. You remember that game, right? Epic!

Why John Schneider Keeps Betting on Lock's Arm

Manzano hit the nail on the head talking about GMs favoring familiar faces. He wrote, "Teams tend to favor backups they’re familiar with... GM John Schneider must have really liked what he saw from Lock in 2022 and ’23 when he played under coach Pete Carroll and behind Geno Smith, because Schneider brought Lock back last year to work with coach Mike Macdonald and Sam Darnold." That's a strong statement of faith from our GM, especially considering Lock struggled a bit in his five starts with the Giants during his year away. He only appeared in five games during his second stint here last year, completing 2-of-3 passes for 15 yards. Not much to go on, but clearly, the front office sees something. What gives our coaching staff, specifically Coach Mike Macdonald, and John Schneider that confidence in Lock, especially over a younger guy like Jalen Milroe? It's all about experience, baby. Lock has played in 41 career games, starting 28 of them. He's got a 10-18 record as a starter, thrown for 6369 yards, 34 touchdowns, and 28 interceptions. That's a lot of snaps and different situations he's seen. That kind of battle-tested knowledge is massive when your team has championship aspirations. So, while Manzano’s ranking puts Lock squarely in the middle, his experience is undeniably a huge factor for our Seahawks as we navigate this early part of the season. Does it guarantee he'll hold off Milroe all year? Nah, the source says it doesn't. But it does mean we have a veteran presence ready to step in if Sam Darnold needs him. We're looking at a team with championship aspirations, and having a reliable, experienced QB2 is absolutely critical. We'll be watching every snap, 12s, ready to see what Lock brings to the table if his number is called. Let's get it!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.