The Seattle Seahawks made major moves this offseason, parting ways with Geno Smith, Tyler Lockett, and DK Metcalf. Seattle signed former Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold to a three-year, $100.5 million contract and drafted Jalen Milroe in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Darnold had his best NFL season in 2024 with Minnesota, but that was his only standout year in the league. If he struggles in 2025, the Seahawks could look for another quarterback change next season.
Who Could the Seahawks Target for Their Next Quarterback in the 2026 NFL Draft?
Seahawks fans have reason to worry about this offseason’s moves. The team received a C+ grade from PFSN’s “NFL Offseason Grades,” one of only four to score that low.
Darnold ranked 12th in PFSN’s QB+ metric in 2024 compared to Smith’s 15th-place finish, making him a slight upgrade. However, the former Vikings quarterback brings more risk than his predecessor. Darnold threw for 4,319 yards and 35 touchdowns in 2024, but those numbers came behind Minnesota’s solid offensive line.
Milroe also has question marks after showing inconsistent accuracy and decision-making at Alabama. The bigger concern is Seattle’s failure to build around its quarterbacks like Minnesota did for Darnold. Smith took 50 sacks in 2024, and the Seahawks only added first-round pick Grey Zabel to address the offensive line.
PFSN’s Max Dorsey projects Seattle to finish with a below-average season, giving them the 15th pick in his latest 2026 NFL Mock Draft. Dorsey doesn’t expect the Seahawks to rush into selecting a new signal-caller early. Instead, he has them taking former Alabama quarterback Eli Holstein with the 79th pick in the third round while using their first-round selection on an offensive tackle.
What Makes Holstein an Intriguing Late-Round Target?
Holstein transferred from Alabama to Pittsburgh and made an immediate impact in 2024. He threw for 2,225 yards, 17 touchdowns, and seven interceptions while leading the Panthers to a comeback victory in the Backyard Brawl against West Virginia. The 6’4″, 225-pound quarterback recorded a 61.9% completion rate in his first season with Pittsburgh.
Another #Pitt player who I think will improve/make a jump from last year: QB Eli Holstein. When healthy he was on the top of his game. Now, healthy again, year 2 in the Kade Bell offense. I see major potential with an improved OL and new weapons at WR. 👀👀 #H2P pic.twitter.com/CtK7qlQ198
— JJ Kitchen (@JJ_Kitchen40) June 11, 2025
Holstein brings solid athleticism and playmaking ability to the position. He can extend plays under pressure and deliver accurate passes from different arm angles. His mobility allows him to escape the pocket when protection breaks down, which could help behind Seattle’s struggling offensive line.
The young quarterback’s game is volatile, and his decision-making can sometimes be inconsistent. In 2024, Holstein hit at least a 70% completion rate in three games and threw for three touchdowns in each of his first five starts. At 20 years old, he would serve as a developmental project rather than an immediate threat to Darnold’s starting position.
This approach would give Seattle a potential long-term answer at quarterback while allowing them to address more immediate needs with their first-round pick. Holstein could develop into a reliable backup or even compete for the starting job if Darnold struggles in 2025.
