Brady HendersonESPN11:31 PM BST3 Minute Read
Seattle Seahawks general manager John Schneider made it clear before the start of free agency that the team would like to sign backup quarterback Drew Lock in addition to starter Geno Smith.
After inking Smith to a three-year deal earlier this month, they achieved that goal by agreeing to an agreement with Lock on Thursday.
On his weekly radio appearance on Seattle Sports 710-AM, General Manager John Schneider confirmed a NFL Network report that Seattle is bringing Lock back, though he declined to reveal the terms of the deal.
“What a great guy,” said Schneider. “Everything he’s been through. We’ve talked a lot about coming here, competing with Geno, getting COVID – really bad timing for him. Game 2 (the preseason) was supposed to be his game against Chicago here, and then he got really sick. He still had no legs against Dallas (in the preseason finals). So just very excited. Really happy for him.
Schneider also confirmed a report by ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler that Seattle has reached agreements with former Detroit Lions center Evan Brown. The deal is for one year, a source told ESPN. Schneider noted that the 26-year-old brown guard can play but is “really a center.” Brown started at right defense for Detroit last season and at center in 2021.
Lock, who turned 26 in November, was acquired from Russell Wilson in last year’s trade and was one of the main reasons the Seahawks wanted to send Wilson to the Denver Broncos. He was the likely favorite among many in the organization to win the seed for last season. He was up and down in the offseason and began to gain ground on Smith during a stretch of the summer, but his momentum was halted when he fell with COVID-19 and sidelined him for his first preseason start.
He didn’t play a single snap during the regular season. After the playoff loss to the 49ers, Lock told ESPN that his front-row view of Smith’s comeback season was “inspiring” because it reminded him — and other backup quarterbacks — that they can play at a high level .
In his season-ending press conference, Seahawks coach Pete Carroll praised Lock for the positive attitude he maintained despite his lack of a playing opportunity.
Lock, a second-round pick by Denver of Missouri in 2019, went 8-13 in his three seasons with the Broncos as a starter, throwing 25 touchdowns on 20 interceptions while completing 59.3% of his passes during that span .
The best stretch of Lock’s career came at the end of his rookie season. After missing the first 11 games with a thumb injury, he started in the last five, throwing seven touchdown passes to three interceptions and leading Denver to four wins.
Brown and Lock will become the third and fourth players Seattle has added or brought back since the negotiation window began Monday. The team announced the signings of defensive tackles Dre’Mont Jones and Jarran Reed on Thursday. Schneider said the Seahawks are still in talks with “a number” of other defensemen to shore up an issue from last season.
The Seahawks agreed to a three-year, $51.53 million contract with Jones on Monday. Schneider said Jones was one of the players Seattle discussed with the Broncos last offseason when negotiating the Wilson trade, but Denver wasn’t ready to part ways with him at the time.