Broncos vs. Seahawks NFL Week 1 odds: Will Drew Lock, Geno Smith or Baker Mayfield be Seattle's starting quarterback for 2022 season opener?

One of the most intriguing NFL Week 1 matchups is the lone Monday night game, when the Denver Broncos visit the Seattle Seahawks for Russell Wilson's return to the Pacific Northwest. Who will be Wilson's counterpart under center on his former Seahawks team? SportsLine offers updated odds amidst more rumors of Baker Mayfield perhaps still landing in Seattle.

Seattle apparently isn't interested in trading for the Browns' Mayfield, the former Heisman Trophy winner and first overall pick, and taking on his guaranteed $18.86 million contract. Things could obviously change in a heartbeat if the two players competing for the Seahawks' starting quarterback job, Drew Lock (part of the trade package back from Denver for Wilson) and Geno Smith, struggle or get injured.

Cleveland.com reported this week that Seattle would sign Mayfield if Cleveland cuts him, but the Browns keep holding out in hopes of getting perhaps a late-round draft pick and some team at least picking up $5 million or so of his contract. The Carolina Panthers are reportedly still in the mix.

The Seahawks held OTAs this week and naturally only good things were said about the current QBs. Smith was running with the first-team offense and Lock the second because Lock is less familiar with second-year Seahawks play-caller Shane Waldron's terminology (in "catch-up mode") and offense than Smith is. "Geno has done such a good job of carrying over [from 2021]. He already had a head start over Drew right there," Waldron said recently.

Lock was 8-13 as a starter in his career in Denver and Smith was 1-2 as a starter last year when Wilson was injured. Seattle coach Pete Carroll and GM John Schneider have said that the organization held Lock in high regard coming out of Missouri, with Carroll hinting the Seahawks may have considered moving up to draft him in 2019. Lock was chosen No. 42 overall by Denver. He's still just 25. Jacob Eason, a 2020 fourth-round pick by the Colts, is also on the roster.

It was thought that Seattle would target a quarterback during the 2022 NFL Draft. Instead, the Seahawks didn't select a passer and passed on Malik Willis four times. Carroll has said Lock would have been the first QB selected in the 2022 draft – which doesn't say much for the overall class.

Might the early-season schedule help sway Seattle's decision on its QB? The Broncos have a terrific defense in the opener and then Seattle is on short rest/preparation Week 2 at another Super Bowl-caliber defense in San Francisco.

The Seahawks also figure to be one of the most run-heavy teams in the NFL. They spent a second-round pick drafting Michigan State running back Kenneth Walker III to add to an RB room of Chris Carson and Rashaad Penny. Lock is more turnover-prone than Smith. The thinking is that if you are going to run the ball a lot, select the "safer" QB -- and that would be Smith.

Seattle is a 3.5-point underdog at Caesars for Week 1.

Via SportsLine oddsmakers: Who will be Seattle's Week 1 starting quarterback?

• Geno Smith +300
• Drew Lock +400
• Baker Mayfield +750
• Other +1000

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