THE CHEAP SEATS with STEVE CAMERON: Seattle could use a franchise QB

“Either you have your franchise quarterback, or you don’t.”

John Mara

Co-owner

New York Giants

So ...

Just how does the Giants’ situation matter in Seattle?

Well, New York is coming to decision time on Daniel Jones, and they’ve put their quarterback’s feet to the fire by failing to exercise his fifth-year contract option.

Presumably, if Jones fails the test in 2022, Mara will go looking for another potential franchise QB.

The point that this well-respected owner was making, though, was very clear ...

You can’t win big — like playoffs and Super Bowl level — without a franchise quarterback.

I think it’s a fair bet that at least 99 percent of Seahawks fans agree with Mara’s reasoning.

And further ...

That same 99 percent, asked if Seattle has its franchise quarterback, as (sort of) implied by Pete Carroll, would begin howling at the moon.

No, no, and no!

Remember, Carroll has said the Hawks are “not rebuilding, not at all,” and yet the only two veteran QBs on the roster are Drew Lock and Geno Smith.

Both are proven, no-question, below-ordinary performers, with plenty of evidence already on file to back up the indictments.

I’M SURE most Seahawks junkies would have let out a roar of approval if Carroll and John Schneider had taken Liberty’s super-athletic quarterback Malik Willis with the 40th or 41st pick in the second round last Friday.

Instead, they picked an admittedly terrific running back in Kenneth Walker III from Michigan State.

The choice was applauded in a few circles, but panned in far more — criticism both for what draftniks call “positional value” (meaning, you can get running backs anytime), and also because of the Seahawks’ other needs.

Those other problem positions obviously include ...

Quarterback.

Even if you assume the Seahawks are looking at a two-year project to become a powerhouse playoff team again, why wouldn’t they take a gifted project like Willis, have him work with the club for a year and perhaps become something truly special, once we get another season down the road?

Tennessee, which has Ryan Tannehill as QB1, indeed did scoop up Willis in the third round, at pick No. 86.

Schneider said they thought about the quarterback situation, but it didn’t “time up” in the draft — which apparently means there wasn’t an all-world prospect deep into the 200s in round No. 7.

Carroll also reminded questioners that the Hawks have serious issues at running back, with Rashaad Penny signed for just one year and Chris Carson coming off a neck injury.

“I would say this, we picked (Walker) because, on the board, he was up there for us, and we couldn’t pass him up,” Carroll said.

“We don’t have updates yet on Chris, we won’t know for some time here.

"We can't predict that."

CARROLL, by the way, also has offered conflicting statements on whether Seattle is done dealing with its quarterback situation for this coming season.

It’s all rather odd, too, because the Seahawks had a terrific — possibly spectacular — draft at most other positions of need.

Look, when the Russell Wilson trade was completed, Carroll and Schneider both implied that Lock might be a surprise commodity, a quarterback ill-served by too many changes at coach and coordinator.

A genuine talent.

However ...

Pete also said the Seahawks “were still in the quarterback business,” and that he wanted another one.

UNLESS there is a surprise deal for Baker Mayfield in the works, it looks like we’re really, truly going to see Lock at Lumen Field.

Playing.

Drew Lock, the man of 25 career TD passes and 20 interceptions.

As for Mayfield (assuming they even like him), that would be a complicated deal because the Browns owe Mayfield $18.86 million on his fifth-year option.

Seattle won’t be picking up that tab, so Cleveland would have to pay to unload Mayfield.

Hmmm ...

Let’s see, Nick Foles just got released.

Isn’t he better than Drew Lock?

You know, it’s one thing to tell your loyal fans that the plan might, you know, take two years.

It’s quite another, asking them to watch a quarterback throwing the ball to the wrong team.

Often.

Fingers crossed.

Email: [email protected]

Steve Cameron’s “Cheap Seats” columns appear in The Press on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. He also writes Zags Tracker, a commentary on Gonzaga basketball which is published monthly during the off season.

Steve suggests you take his opinions in the spirit of a Jimmy Buffett song: “Breathe In, Breathe Out, Move On.”