Drew Lock is a bargain and that’s something the Seahawks should address as soon as possible. Signing Lock to a contract extension carries little risk but comes with numerous ways for Seattle to benefit from a deal that allows the Seahawks to retain his rights into 2027.
Given how poorly many NFL starters have played this week, including Jared Goff, Daniel Jones, Deshaun Watson, and Cam Ward, even a competent backup like Lock will look very attractive to teams as a free agent. So why not control Lock’s future rights now while he’s still going to come relatively cheap, and then have all the outcomes available to you next year: Trade chip, great backup, Sam Darnold negotiation leverage, and more?
In the second season of a two-year, $5 million contract, Lock is making just $2.25 million in 2026 and he will be a free agent in 2027. This means Lock makes less than quarterbacks like Anthony Richardson ($10.8 million on his rookie deal), Davis Mills ($8.1m), Jarrett Stidham ($8m), Marcus Mariota ($7.3m), Gardner Minshew ($5.7m), Tyson Bagent ($4.75m), Mason Rudolph ($4.6m), and Mitch Trubisky ($4.25m), and many others.
Yet in Week 1, he outplayed Drake Maye and Matthew Stafford.
We’ve seen Lock have great games before, and we’ve seen Lock have bad games too. Maybe this conversation will have a much different tone after the Seahawks play the Cardinals next Sunday. I don’t believe players usually change that much after a few years in the league and Lock has proven to be a frustrating experience when he’s had the chance to start. But as a backup who can help keep a Super Bowl team afloat in the absence of Darnold?
That type of confidence isn’t likely to change with Lock next week.
What would Drew Lock cost on a new extension and what would an extension allow the Seahawks to do over the next two years? Let’s see: