The Drew Lock who arrived at Seattle Seahawks camp this year is a more refined version of the quarterback who first joined the team a few seasons ago.
During that initial stint, Lock’s arm talent and athletic potential were not enough to unseat a sharper Geno Smith for the starting job. This time, his role is not to challenge for the top spot, but his noticeable improvement has the coaching staff feeling more confident in him as a reliable backup. With greater velocity on his throws and more comfort throwing on the run, the 28-year-old appears more seasoned.
Lock’s journey underscores a growing NFL trend: patience with quarterback development can yield significant returns. His new teammate, Sam Darnold, is another prime example. A former top-five pick who struggled with the New York Jets, Darnold revived his career after developing as a backup in San Francisco and later earning a starting opportunity with the Minnesota Vikings.
Lock attributes his growth to accumulated experience. “The quarterback position is unique,” he said in an interview with Seattle Sports. “The older you get, the more reps you bang, the more football you’ve been around, the calmer you feel, the more confident you feel… It just ends up making football a little easier. Well, easier is not a great word. It’s never easy.”
After spending the 2024 season with the New York Giants, Lock returns to a familiar environment in Seattle. He is once again throwing to receivers like Jake Bobo and Cody White and operating within an offensive system, now under coordinator Klint Kubiak, that shares principles with the one he knew before. “I know how they run routes. I’ve been in this style of offense before,” Lock explained. “There’s just a lot of things reoccurring. It makes it a smooth transition into a new offense. And it’s been a lot of fun.”
The decision to return to the Pacific Northwest was also influenced by a perplexing season in New York, where he was passed over for emergency backup Tommy DeVito despite being the team’s No. 2 quarterback. Lock said his affection for the Seahawks organization and the city, a sentiment shared by his wife, made the choice an easy one, even with a new head coach in Mike Macdonald.
He added that his respect for Macdonald’s defensive schemes, which he studied intensely as an opponent with the Baltimore Ravens, was another compelling factor. “With him being here, you know your defense is going to come to play,” Lock said. “Just the trajectory of this team… it’s just an exciting time here. It was something I couldn’t pass up.”
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