Updated Apr 20, 2012 - 11:25 am
Schneider: Ryan Tannehill won't be available at No. 12
John Schneider has no intention of reaching for a quarterback. The financial commitment that comes with drafting one in the first round wouldn't deter him from doing so.
In a meeting with the media Thursday afternoon, Schneider was asked about not selecting a quarterback in either of the two drafts he's ran as general manager of the Seahawks.
"It just happens like that," Schneider said. "You can't just manufacture a guy. You can't just create him. When you do that is when you get in trouble so you have to take steps until you get there. It's not like we're against taking risk. I think Pete [Carroll] and I and the staff have proved we're willing to take risks but they can't be risks that would completely set the organization back."
With the acquisition of free-agent quarterback Matt Flynn and the return of incumbent starter Tarvaris Jackson and third stringer Josh Portis, the Seahawks now have three quarterbacks on the roster.
But there is room for more, at least from a financial standpoint.
When asked whether there would be too much money committed to one position if the Seahawks drafted a quarterback with the 12th pick, Schneider was succinct: "Nope."
So, what if someone like Ryan Tannehill happened to fall in the Seahawks' lap?
"Yep, he's a really good football player," Schneider said of the Texas A&M prospect. "He's got a great upside. We'd definitely consider him."
Schneider said that the presence of the existing quarterbacks isn't going to change his game plan.
"It's no disrespect to Tarvaris or Matt or Josh at all," he said. "The guys know that at some point we want to get this thing rolling where we get a younger quarterback in and whether it's the first round, second round, or however it comes, it's just been my experience that I've had where we say if they come to you, that's how it works out the best."
But it's not likely to work out that way for the Seahawks this year, Schneider said. He thinks Tannehill will be long off the board.
"It's fun to talk about but he's not going to be there," he said.
Schneider also addressed the Seahawks offensive line and whether last season's injuries will factor into this year's draft. Three starting linemen finished the season on the injured reserve -- left tackle Russell Okung with a torn pectoral muscle and right guard John Moffitt and right tackle James Carpenter with knee injuries.
Although the offseason training program only began this week, Schneider thinks Moffitt and Okung will be available for the start of training camp. Carpenter, however, appears likely to begin the season on the Physically Unable to Perform list, which would sideline him for at least the first six weeks of the season.
"That would be overly optimistic I think," Schneider said of Carpenter making camp. "I would probably personally guard against it. Try to do the right thing by him, you know?"
Schneider expressed confidence in the rest of the Seahawks offensive linemen, mentioning backups Paul McQuistan, Breno Giacomini, Allen Barbre, Brent Osborne and Paul Fanaika as well as free-agent addition Deuce Lutui.
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