Seattle Seahawks

Pete Carroll compares Seahawks rookie to Russell Wilson

Published Nov. 15, 2016 2:29 p.m. ET

Andre Vergara

The Dallas Cowboys aren't the only team hunting for a backup quarterback.

The Seattle Seahawks are auditioning two QBs, Trevone Boykin and Jake Heaps, who have one preseason game of experience between them.

Coach Pete Carroll sees one advantage in Boykin: a similarity to Russell Wilson that would make the transition more seamless if the starter were to go down.

"[Boykin] is always able to make things happen and in a very similar fashion as Russell did," Carroll said Friday at camp. "We're very confident that he has a chance to help us. Let me tell you though, you didn't ask about him, but Jake Heaps is lighting it up, he is having a great camp, so that is a very good position for us."

Boykin, a star at TCU, was expected to be drafted in April but went undrafted after an arrest before the Alamo Bowl. He's adjusted to taking snaps from under center, after years of playing in the shotgun, and has Carroll "really excited." Heaps, also an undrafted free agent who played at BYU, is adjusting after spending his first season with the Jets.

However, GM John Schneider says it's his job to keep an eye out for a veteran signal caller just in case. Tarvaris Jackson, who backed up Wilson for the past three seasons, wasn't re-signed this offseason.

"I like all our players, I'm just never really one of those guys that's like, `Yeah, we got this. We got this.' You know what I mean?" Schneider said. "Pete's job is to instill confidence in people and he does a great job. It's one of his best attributes, making everybody feel great about themselves and instilling confidence in their abilities. My job is to be forward-thinking and our staff ... to be ready for what's coming next if it doesn't work out."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.