Will Matt Hasselbeck return to the Seattle Seahawks?

Will QB Matt Hasselbeck return to the Seattle Seahawks in 2011? There have been conflicting reports surrounding the impending NFL free agent this past week and given the state of the quarterback position in Seattle, it might be a wise choice to bring the veteran back for yet another season if not to simply be a mentor if the Seahawks decide they want to go another direction.

Last week, the NFL Network reported that the Seattle organization was going forward without the services of Hasselbeck in 2011 and that the Seahawks were seriously interested in Arkansas QB Ryan Mallet in this year’s draft. Hasselbeck, speaking to the Boston Globe says, “I’m definitely hopeful that I’ll be able to stay in Seattle….”

The 13-year veteran out of Boston College has struggled with a variety of injuries over the past few seasons and while he helped to guide the 7-9 Seahawks to the playoffs this season, had the fewest touchdowns of any starter this season, 12.

One look at the Seahawks roster tells the seriousness of need at the quarterback position. One of the first moves that head coach Pete Carroll made last season, was to trade for then-San Diego Chargers backup quarterback Charlie Whitehurst, who had never thrown a pass in a NFL regular season game. Whitehurst appeared in five games for Seattle this season, and despite his physical size in the pocket, does not look like the long-term answer for Seattle that Carroll had hoped for when he traded for him. The Seahawks also have veteran journeyman J.P. Losman and second-year player Nate Davis on their roster.

While the NFL Network makes the case for the Seahawks to draft Ryan Mallett, Hasselbeck mentions University of Washington QB Jake Locker as a possible future leader for Seattle, “I feel like he’s the kind of guy who would be a great leader on a football team”.

There will be some free agent veteran quarterbacks available when the NFL resolves the current Collective Bargaining Agreement and the free agency period. But given the fact that Hasselbeck is already familiar with the Seahawks playbook and the preseason will be shortened significantly this season, it would be a wise choice for Seattle to re-sign Hasselbeck, even if it’s for a one-year contract.