It took Drew Lock only one week in OTAs to prove Seahawks were right

There will be no quarterback controversy to begin the 2025 season for the Seattle Seahawks. Head coach Mike Macdonald ended any drama this week when he referred to a question about the potential that Sam Darnold isn't QB1 as "crazy."

Darnold is going to be the starter, at least at the beginning of the season, while Drew Lock will be QB2 and Jalen Milroe QB3.

However, among those quarterbacks, only one has been fantastic so far in Seattle's organized team activities (OTAs), and it isn't Darnold. If anyone were watching OTAs and didn't know which quarterback was which, they might safely assume that the player wearing jersey number 2 is actually the No. 1.

Drew Lock looking like the real QB1 for the Seahawks in OTAs so far

Lock has been pinpoint with his accuracy, and proving again what a strong arm he has. He has hit a number of passes deep against the Seahawks' good secondary. If this were truly an open quarterback competition, Lock, at least based on his play on the field, would be the leader.

He isn't, and he never will be, but is that a good thing?

The same number of Seahawks fans clamoring for Lock to replace Geno Smith during 2023 might be doing the same should Darnold get off to a slow start in his first season with the Seahawks. Lock was better than most thought he would be in his two starts for the Seahawks in 2023, but still didn't prove to any team that he should be a long-term starter.

He signed with the New York Giants last offseason on a one-year deal, hoping he had a chance to be the starter, but he never did. Due to injuries, he did start five games for the terrible Giants and was not overly effective except for Week 17 when he threw for 309 yards, four touchdowns, and no interceptions against the Indianapolis Colts.

Seattle general manager John Schneider surprisingly brought back Lock on a two-year deal if free agency after signing Darnold.

Darnold has had one good season in his seven-year career, and that came in 2024. Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak's scheme should be a good fit for him, but there is also a chance that Darnold had a full season like Lock did in his one game last year.

There is no guarantee that Darnold can be good again this year, and the Seahawks should have the kind of defense that puts the team in a position to win a lot of games. Darnold's potentially poor play could ruin what might be an otherwise promising season.

Milroe isn't going to be ready to start this coming season, which means if Darnold consistently fails, his replacement should be Lock. The hope is that Darnold succeeds, of course, but Lock is proving in OTAs that he is ready to step in if Darnold shows he has regressed.