CBS Sports Rob Rang has Jake Locker firmly in the top-10 in his latest 2011 NFL mock draft, but his counterpart, Chad Reuter, isn’t quite as bullish on Locker. While he does have the Washington quarterback in the first round, Reuter sees Locker as a late-round pick, heading to a familiar spot for fans in Seattle. Yes, Reuter is sticking with his projection of Jake Locker to the Seahawks as it fills an immediate need at the quarterback position.
Of note, Reuter sees a different quarterback situation for the Seahawks, who are faced with uncertainty as the labor dispute continues and the lockout prevents the team from participating in a normal NFL offseason. With Matt Hasselbeck’s status hanging in the balance, it’s looking more likely his time in Seattle may be coming to a close, and Charlie Whitehurst would be the stop-gap between quarterbacks. Reuter laid out his plan while justifying the pick.
The Seahawks start Charlie Whitehurst in 2011, allowing Locker to work on his comfort and accuracy from the pocket.
If this is the case, Seattle could be in for a world of hurt this coming season, whenever it may get started. Without Hasselbeck, there is no proven stop-gap plan, and Locker, or any quarterback picked in the draft, would be thrust into action early. While Whitehurst has shown the ability to make plays at times, I’m not alone in being deathly afraid of handing him the full-time starting duties.
For more on the draft, check out the rest of our 2011 NFL mock draft StoryStream. For more on the Seahawks quarterback situation and the Whitehurst problem, head over to Field Gulls.