Seattle Seahawks’ Starting Quarterback Job Remains Open Competition

The Seattle Seahawks starting quarterback gig remains open for competition. Entering the final week of offseason workouts, head coach Pete Carroll has said that the competition remains a three-horse race and none of the competitors — Tarvaris Jackson, Matt Flynn and Russell Wilson — have taken a commanding lead.

“We need more turns, more snaps,” Carroll said. “We have balanced out the reps so far in really good fashion, and who they’re working with. What’s outstanding about it is all three guys are doing well, and they’re all making a pitch for staying in the competition.

“It will be interesting to see as we take a break and then go back to camp here, if there’s any change in the guys. Or if they see things more clearly because they had a little bit of time off.”

While the race remains open, Jackson does take the first reps with the first-team. His 34 NFL starts give him a significant experience advantage over Flynn, who has two starts, and the rookie Wilson. Jackson is also more familiar with the offense and led the team to a 5-3 record to close out the season.

“Russell and Matt both have ground to make up because they’re learning new systems,” Carroll said. “And they both are doing exceedingly well at that, but they have more ground to make up.

“T-Jack has more familiarity after all the years he was with Bev [Seattle offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell].”

When the Seahawks signed Matt Flynn in the offseason, many thought that he would take over as the team’s starter. But despite his three-year, $19 million deal, Flynn is not guaranteed a starting job and Carroll has said that salary will not factor into his decision.

“Draft picks and money and stuff like that is not going to play in the decision at all,” Carroll said. “We’re going to go with what it looks like through the competition and how they play, and the results of that, and how we feel about that.”

If things continue to play out as they have, expect Jackson to enter the season as Seattle’s starter. Carroll is begging for one of his quarterbacks to step ahead of the competition, but if no one does, Carroll will likely go with the more experienced signal-caller to run his offense.

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