THE CHEAP SEATS with STEVE CAMERON: The draft is over, and Seahawks' next QB is obvious

Yes, the Seahawks had a big winner this weekend.

They used 10 picks over three days at the NFL draft, and came up with a potentially exciting group that perhaps could match the production of the 2022 class.

The Hawks addressed most of their obvious needs at one point or another, grabbed two elite athletes in the first round who should be immediate contributors, and found some unique players with helpful skills in the later rounds.

But the big winner?

Drew Lock.

Pete Carroll has insisted for a year that Lock is a special quarterback.

“He can do remarkable things, and now he’s been with us because Geno (Smith) was so good last year, but Drew can ball out, believe me,” Carroll told a media group.

“I’m so glad we’ve got him, and we could roll with Drew at quarterback right now.”

There is context to Carroll’s comments, especially when placed alongsisde the results of this 2023 draft.

Plenty of Hawks fans were hoping to get Seattle’s next QB this week, and in a way, they did.

Barring something truly crazy, the 33-year-old Smith’s eventual successor will be Drew Lock, who is seven years younger.

IN THIS draft, quarterbacks were selected early, middle and late.

Almost anyone who could spin a 30-yard spiral heard his name called from the stage in Kansas City.

No less than 13 were picked over the three days, including 11 in the first 149 spots.

If the Seahawks REALLY had wanted a quarterback to caddy for Smith, to be his heir, or actually arrive as QB1, they had plenty of chances to jump that way.

Bryce Young (No. 1) and C.J. Stroud (No. 2) were realistically out of reach, but if Carroll and GM John Schneider had fallen in love with super athlete Anthony Richardson (as many suspected), they could have traded up to the third spot by making a deal with Arizona.

They did not, and watched the Colts grab Richardson at No. 4, one spot before they selected Illinois cornerback Devon Witherspoon at No. 5.

Beyond that, they were free to take highly regarded Kentucky quarterback Will Levis with the 20th pick, but passed on him to select receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba.

The Titans then grabbed Levis right at the top of the second round.

That was our message.

Drew Lock is the Seahawks’ guy, and likely will take the reins from Smith sometime down the road.

If there was any further doubt, Seattle ignored Tennessee QB Hendon Hooker, who went to Detroit in the third round.

Interestingly, Lock is just one year older than Hooker.

To look at it another way, the 6-4, 228-pound Lock is still in the learning phase of becoming an impact NFL quarterback.

His three years in Denver were wasted on a bad team with several coaching changes (including coordinators), but now he’s adapted to the Seahawks system.

He’s comfortable, and the Hawks are comfortable with him.

I’M SURE there are Seahawks fans who are disappointed that there isn’t a new quarterback on the roster.

Plenty were dreaming of a generational possibility like Richardson.

Me, too.

Honestly, though, you have to trust the coaches who see Smith and Lock every day.

They were so, so right about Smith, when hardly anyone agreed with them.

If they believe Lock is a worthy No. 2 who is growing toward the top spot, they’ve earned the benefit of the doubt.

This is an administration — from owner Jody Allen on down — that wants to get back to the Super Bowl.

They spent endless hours putting together a plan for this draft, and deciding how they wanted their team to improve going forward.

And, bottom line …

They’re cool with their two quarterbacks.

They understand that they aren’t likely to pick as high as No. 5 again, nor do they hope to be in that spot.

The opportunity to make a dramatic move for a “franchise quarterback” was right there, and they felt that they have the two QBs they need to compete with the league’s very best teams.

It was interesting that they DID select a pair of running backs — Zach Charbonnet from UCLA in the second round and Kenny McIntosh of Georgia with their last pick — who are reliable receivers and solid blockers in the passing game.

Both also run with a violent style — more smashmouth than current RB1 Kenneth Walker — that tells you Carroll really wants to re-establish the Seahawks as a physical team.

Those choices, along with picks at center (Olu Olawatimi) and guard (Anthony Bradford), and the terrific addition of Smith-Njigba, suggest that Carroll and Schneider want to give their quarterbacks more weapons.

And more ease in the pocket.

What this draft also told us, without any doubt whatsoever, is that Drew Lock is likely on course to be Seattle’s next QB1.

Warm up to it.

These guys know what they’re seeing.

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.”