THE CHEAP SEATS with STEVE CAMERON: Inbox alert: Seahawks fans have plenty of thoughts on draft

Yikes!

Oh, brother, you write about the NFL draft and your laptop explodes under the barrage of incoming emails.

I’m not sure exactly how many readers saw Thursday’s column, but I can guarantee that a pretty high percentage of them sat down to type out THEIR thoughts on the draft — and what the Seahawks should do with it.

I’m assuming this flood of ideas from most of North Idaho will continue until the draft actually kicks off exactly two weeks from Thursday night.

This first batch of suggestions for the Seahawks, though, actually contained one exciting (and possibly realistic) plan to turn a team that barely made last season’s playoffs into a Super Bowl contender.

Admittedly, the “plan” was pretty basic.

Folks offered a bundle of ways to achieve it, and there some bits here and pieces there that made you think …

Hey, we’re on to something.

Everything started with a few basic facts.

First, Pete Carroll is 71, and he wants to bag one more Super Bowl in the immediate future.

Therefore, the Hawks are in “win now” mode, and should address free agency and the draft precisely that way.

THE NEXT supposition was that Carroll has always wanted to capture games by running the football and playing solid defense.


OK, no shock there.

But the truly interesting thoughts that have filled my inbox revolve around the notion of acquiring a quarterback who can run.

Not just scoot for a first down when flushed out of the pocket with receivers all covered.

No, this is about an actual “running quarterback,” someone who is part of your plan to create a really effective ground game.

I’m sure this idea is on people’s minds because Lamar Jackson’s contract battle with the Ravens has reached a point where Jackson — the NFL’s premier running QB — has publicly requested a trade.

There are ways and means by which Seattle likely could bring Jackson to the Northwest, although it wouldn’t be easy.

Or cheap.

Still, imagine Carroll and his offensive coaches turning Jackson loose to open up the deep passing game.

And of course, they’d have an entire hymn sheet of designed runs, almost like going back to the days of the single-wing (which Pete knows very well).

This type of offense would put Jackson in harm’s way, obviously, and no doubt shorten his career.

Remember, he’s already been injured in each of the past two seasons in Baltimore.

But if it’s “win now” you want, taking the leash off Lamar Jackson is certainly a way to do it.

Yes, the plan would be to keep Geno Smith around to direct the offense if (when) Lamar gets nicked up.

Many readers who thought grabbing Jackson would be a swell idea generally glossed over the complications of actually removing him from the Ravens.

If you’ve actually looked at Jackson’s contract demands, they make your eyes water.

He wants a deal identical to the one Cleveland (stupidly) gave to Deshaun Watson — $230 million over five years, all guaranteed.

IT’S A stone cold belief among NFL teams, in the name of both greed and caution, that fully guaranteed contracts are off the table.

The rest of the league is furious that the Browns did it — and for a guy involved in sexual misconduct, as well.

Now, there are ways to sell a non-guaranteed contract as “guaranteed,” depending on when you pay what, how much is handed over at signing, etc.

It’s all just bookkeeping.

Negotiating a deal with Jackson would be a little tougher, since he has no agent and is representing himself.

On the other hand, if Lamar refuses to play this year, it will cost him $2 million per week.

Assuming Seattle could work out the money and cap issues (teams can ALWAYS get that done), then there would be compensation for the Ravens — either a negotiated trade, or two first-round draft choices if Jackson signed an offer sheet and Baltimore chose not to match it.

If they worked out a deal that would occur after the draft, the Hawks wouldn’t be giving up any draft choices this year.

Remember, this is “win now.”

Understand, we are making some major assumptions here, including a pretty serious question …

IF PETE thought he could win with a running quarterback, why hasn’t he tried it before now?

I guess you’d answer that by saying that Russell Wilson was successful for a long time (and won a Super Bowl). Plus, Wilson DID run quite a bit.

Let’s get to the heart of this …

I don’t think Pete believes that Geno Smith can get him to the Promised Land — running, passing or using drone technology.

Geno is the Jimmy Garoppolo of Puget Sound.

Yes, yes, I know — improve the defense, which they will in any case.

Look, a great front seven can absolutely make you a factor in the playoffs (see: San Francisco).

But a special quarterback can get you the Lombardi Trophy.

Meanwhile, for all of you who want Lamar Jackson, and to see Carroll win with a runner at QB …

How about making it simpler?

Trade up from No. 5 to No. 3 in the draft, and use Arizona’s pick to take Anthony Richardson.

He’s not only a runner, he’s a 235-pound beast who can dodge defenders or cripple them.

The coaches can teach him to find open receivers.

No sweat.

That would be MY plan.

Email: scameron@cdapress.com

Steve Cameron’s “Cheap Seats” columns appear in The Press four times each week, normally Tuesday through Friday unless, you know, stuff happens.

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