Seattle Seahawks Week 1 Starting QB Odds: Walter Jones Says Drew Lock and Seahawks Could “Shock the World”

Seattle Seahawks Week 1 Starting QB Odds: Walter Jones Says Drew Lock and Seahawks Could “Shock the World”

It’s been a rough offseason for the Seattle Seahawks. The team lost their longtime franchise QB, replaced most of their coaching staff, and made little to no moves to improve the team in free agency. Coming off the franchise’s worst season in over a decade. So, OddsChecker reached out to a Seahawks legend to see if we could get an idea about what the team could look like in 2022. Hall of Fame LT Walter Jones took the time to talk to OddsChecker and gave us a few interesting takes on the team.

Can the Seattle Seahawks Surprise?

The biggest battle in Seattle right now is at the quarterback position with veteran backup Geno Smith and recently acquired Drew Lock competing to lead the team. When asked about the battle, Jones was clear in his belief that it would be Drew Lock that came out on top, “I like Drew (Lock), he’s a high draft pick. You have to put him on the field to see what he can do. You know Geno can run the offense and manage the scheme, but you have to have Drew out there to see if he was worth the trade or not.” Jones continues, “I think Drew’s going to win out in the end, but I think it’s going to be a great competition.”

Jones's stance on the QB competition is noteworthy, as Lock is currently the heavy underdog to win the job. He’s given +170 odds, or an implied 37% chance to be the team’s Week 1 starter compared to Geno’s -250 odds, or an implied 71.4% chance.

Seattle Seahawks Week 1 Starting QB Odds

Lock isn’t the only young player that Jones likes though. He’s very high on both Kenneth Walker. In fact, when asked about Walker’s chance to win Offensive Rookie of the Year, he’s +1600, Jones said, “I think he has a great chance. He’s got a chance to work with (Rashad) Penny, a guy who started off very slow and was injury prone. Now Penny can teach him how to succeed in the NFL. So, I think he’s going to be great. Coming from a great program playing in a big game I don’t think the NFL is going to be too big for him.”

Jones also told OddsChecker that Charles Cross is showing everything that the Seahawks want to see right now, “He has to continue to get better every time he steps on the field. The pressure is going to be on him right away. That’s one of the positions that’s watched more since I left. Just watching him in the first preseason game, he didn’t look like the game was too fast for him. He looked very confident in his ability. So, from him, you just want to keep seeing him getting better. As a high draft pick, he’s going to be thrown into the fire and he’s going to have to prove himself. I think he’s going to be able to do that.”

That faith in the young players like Lock, Walker, and Cross is a big reason why Jones is much higher on the team than anybody else. When asked about the Seahawks potentially pulling off a Bengals-esque run to the Super Bowl Jones said, “If they do it they’d definitely have shocked the world. I think this season is about getting back to the basics. You just got to play the games and you see what happens. If those guys go out there and play you’re going to get your shot, and once you get your shot anything can happen.”

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Walter Jones certainly knows that anything can happen at any time. That’s why since retiring he’s made sure to dedicate himself to self-improvement and awareness of those around you. That’s why he’s started both the #96Check initiative and the Best 2 Ever Do It brand.

Jones told OddsChecker that the #96Check initiative started in honor of his teammate Cortez Kennedy was all about helping those around you, “I wanted to do something to remember Cortez Kennedy by. So we’re honoring him by using his number and doing it on September 6th. It’s all about checking in on those around you because sometimes after you leave this game life pulls you in different directions and you being to lose touch with people. We sometimes just get so busy in our life that we forget to check in on people we care about. So, call in and check in on somebody. It could make their day.”

Meanwhile, his B2EDI clothing brand is something that he’s focused on to improve himself and give his life new meaning. Jones told OddsChecker, “It’s one of those things I always wanted to do. I always wanted to have my own clothing brand. I wanted it to mean something special to me. So, I took it from what people used to say about me playing ball. It’s all about being the best version of yourself. Sometimes athletes don’t want that label of being a role model, but eyes are always watching you. So, I’m just trying to eliminate that nature. If you want to be your best wear it across your chest.”