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The original was posted on /r/nfl by /u/The_Throwback_King on 2025-03-09 11:37:49+00:00.
The last time a 1st-Round QB was on a Seahawks’ final roster (in the regular season or postseason) was in 2004, when Trent Dilfer completed his 4th and final season in Seattle.
Matt Hasselbeck started most of that year, but Dilfer got the nod in Week 16, and started for the Seahawks on December 26th, 2004. After that date, Seattle would enter a massive break on 1st Round QBs, with none ever nearing the final roster for over 20 years.
That is, save for a brief stint in the 2019 offseason where Paxton Lynch was brought in as competition for Russell Wilson’s backup spot. A spot that was lost to one Geno Smith, pre-ascension.
That drought that has lasted to this day.
A Streak of 352 Consecutive Games without Starting (or even playing) a 1st Round QB
Seahawks Starting QBs since Week 16 of 2004
| Player | Years | Starts | Draft Round |
|---|---|---|---|
| Matt Hasselbeck | 2004-2010 | 89 Starts | 6th Round (1998) |
| Seneca Wallace | 2006-2009 | 15 Starts | 4th Round (2003) |
| Charlie Frye | 2008 | 1 Start | 3rd Round (2005) |
| Charlie Whitehurst | 2010-2011 | 4 Starts | 3rd Round (2006) |
| Tarvaris Jackson | 2011 | 14 Starts | 2nd Round (2006) |
| Russell Wilson | 2012-2021 | 174 Starts | 3rd Round (2012) |
| Geno Smith | 2021-2024 | 53 Starts | 2nd Round (2013) |
| Drew Lock | 2023 | 2 Starts | 2nd Round (2019) |
For context, 83 Different 1st Round QBs started an NFL game over this span (2004-2024). Here’s a breakdown which QBs started for each team:
| Team | # of 1st Round Starting QBs | List |
|---|---|---|
| CLE | 10 QBs | T. Dilfer, B. Quinn, B. Weeden, J. Campbell, J. Manziel, RG3, B. Mayfield, D. Watson, J. Flacco, J. Winston |
| WAS | 10 QBs | P. Ramsey, J. Campbell, D. McNabb, R. Grossman, RG3, A. Smith, M. Sanchez, D. Haskins, C. Wentz, J. Daniels |
| IND | 9 QBs | P. Manning, K. Collins, A. Luck, J. Freeman, P. Rivers, C. Wentz, M. Ryan, A. Richardson, J. Flacco |
| NYJ | 8 QBs | C. Pennington, V. Testaverde, M. Sanchez, M. Vick, S. Darnold, J. Flacco, Z. Wilson, A. Rodgers |
| MIA | 8 QBs | D. Culpepper, J. Harrington, C. Pennington, R. Tannehill, J. Cutler, J. Rosen, Tua, T. Bridgewater, |
| DEN | 7 QBs | J. Cutler, T. Tebow, P. Manning, P. Lynch, J. Flacco, T. Bridgewater, B. Nix |
| MIN | 7 QBs | D. Culpepper, C. Ponder, D. McNabb, J. Freeman, T. Bridgewater, S. Bradford, S. Darnold |
| CAR | 7 QBs | V. Testaverde, D. Carr, C. Newton, T. Bridgewater, S. Darnold, B. Mayfield, B. Young |
| TEN | 7 QBs | S. McNair, V. Young, K. Collins, J. Locker, M. Mariota, B. Gabbert, R. Tannehill |
| PHI | 7 QBs | D. McNabb, M. Vick, V. Young, M. Sanchez, S. Bradford, C. Wentz, K. Pickett |
| LV | 7 QBs | K. Collins, D. Culpepper, J. Russell, C. Palmer, J. Campbell, K. Boller, E. Manuel |
| ARI | 6 QBs | M. Leinart, C. Palmer, B. Gabbert, Josh Rosen, S. Bradford, K. Murray |
| LAR | 6 QBs | K. Boller, S. Bradford, J. Goff, M. Stafford, B. Mayfield, C. Wentz |
| ATL | 6 QBs | M. Vick, J. Harrington, B. Leftwich, M. Ryan, M. Mariota, M. Penix |
| CHI | 6 QBs | R. Grossman, J. Cutler, J. Campbell, M. Trubisky, J. Fields, C. Williams |
| PIT | 6 QBs | T. Maddox, Big Ben, M. Vick, K. Pickett, M. Trubisky, J. Fields |
| KC | 5 QBs | B. Quinn, A. Smith, P. Mahomes, B. Gabbert, C. Wentz |
| JAX | 5 QBs | B. Leftwich, B. Gabbert, B. Bortles, T. Lawrence, M. Jones |
| HOU | 5 QBs | D. Carr, M. Leinart, B. Weeden, D. Watson, C.J. Stroud |
| BAL | 5 QBs | K. Boller, S. McNair, J. Flacco, Lamar, RG3 |
| SF | 5 QBs | A. Smith, T. Dilfer, B. Gabbert, T. Lance, S. Darnold |
| DET | 4 QBs | J. Harrington, D. Culpepper, M. Stafford, J. Goff |
| BUF | 4 QBs | D. Bledsoe, J.P. Losman, E. Manuel, J. Allen |
| DAL | 4 QBs | V. Testaverde, D. Bledsoe, B. Weeden, T. Lance |
| TB | 3 QBs | B. Leftwich, J. Freeman, B. Mayfield |
| NE | 3 QBs | C. Newton, M. Jones, D. Maye |
| LAC | 2 QBS | P. Rivers, J. Herbert |
| NYG | 2 QBs | E. Manning, D. Jones |
| CIN | 2 QBs | C. Palmer, J. Burrow |
| GB | 2 QBs | A. Rodgers, J. Love |
| NO | 2 QBs | T. Bridgwater, J. Winston |
Seattle’s been the one exception. The one, last, holdout. Their drought is so old, that the last Seahawks team with a 1st Round QB, also coincided with the last year of Jerry Rice’s storied career. It’s a drought so old, that it predates any active player in this league.
The modern NFL has developed quite the propensity for utilizing 1st Round QBs. In particular, 27 out of the 32 teams in the NFL started a 1st Round QB in the 2024 Season alone, the 5 exceptions to that are:
- The 49ers and Titans, who’s last 1R-QB Start [Sam Darnold & Ryan Tannehill, respectively] were both in 2023
- The Saints, who’s last 1R-QB Start [Jameis Winston] was in 2022
- The Raiders, who’s last 1R-QB Start [EJ Manuel] was in 2017
- and then, you have the Seahawks, who’s Last 1R-QB Start [Trent Dilfer] was in 2004, 13-years prior to the Raiders.
It’s almost as if Seattle’s has adopted this strong and ardent philosophy, to build their teams without the boon of a 1st Round QB.
Their best QBs, even historically, came from the oddest of places. Jim Zorn, an undrafted sendoff from Dallas, hailing from little Cal Poly Pomona. Dave Krieg, another in that same mold, hailing from an uber small Milton College. Matt Hasselbeck, a former Brett Favre backup, amongst a long lineage of Favre backups. Russell Wilson, a seemingly superfluous selection in the draft, after investing so much financial capital into Matt Flynn. Geno Smith, a player long deemed a bust and a backup.
None of these players had the same glitz and glamour that a 1st Rounder has upon arrival, and yet they all broke from their relative obscurity; made a name for themselves quickly, and marked their memorable part of the Seahawks legacy.
Whenever Seattle’s strayed from that stance; fallen back to the 1st Round Well, it’s almost always blown up in their face. Kelly Stouffer, Dan McGwire, Rick Mirer. All almost handily the worst QBs in this franchise’s history…all were 1st Round picks.
Is there any empirical evidence of this; any truth at the core of this conjecture. Not really. It’s just how the reality of the situation developed.
But it’s still certainly odd that this almost superstitious streak has lead to the team’s greatest period of success, with multiple division titles and playoff berths all throughout the 2000s and 2010s, and their first and only Lombardi.
It’s definitely been interesting to see the team testing the waters once again. Dipping into a pool long ignored. Flirting with 1st Rounders again. Not in a passing glance, like Paxton Lynch’s preseason layover in 2019, but a serious consummation.
Sam Darnold, if the rumors connecting the two are as legit as they seem, may lead to the end to one of longest active streaks in the NFL.