Breaking: ESPN is reporting that Redskins QB Donovan McNabb has been benched. Rex Grossman will start for the team on Sunday. The talking heads on the worldwide leader are speculating that the Redskins are done with McNabb, barring a near-miraculous change of heart, and will exercise the buyout clause in the deal he recently signed.

What, if anything, does this have to do with the Seahawks?

After the jump.

It seems quite likely that Seattle will be in the market for some kind of QB help this off-season. The team has given no indication that it is beholden to Hasselbeck beyond this season, nor any indication that it views Whitehurst as a starter in-waiting.

I doubt Seattle has much interest in acquiring McNabb. But more to the point, McNabb effects Seattle directly no matter where he signs. First, he could sign with another team in the division. An aging McNabb in San Francisco makes them far more formidable. McNabb is not what he once was but he'd play much better on a team with San Francisco's talent.  Second, even if McNabb signs in Cleveland he almost certainly impacts competition for QBs in the upcoming draft--and the impact could go either way. He could thin the herd by signing with a team who feels like it is a QB away and push them out of consideration for a first round QB. Or, any number of teams might look to play him while they groom a QB of the future (possibly from this draft).

McNabb is gonna be a big deal regardless because the first round QB picture is still so uncertain. We don't know what Andrew Luck is going to do for sure. If Stanford plays well in their bowl they could have better than a puncher's chance at a national title in 2011. Returning to Stanford would be a mild surprise at best, as Luck has said that he wants to play four years. Without Luck, the first round probably looks like Jake Locker, Ryan Mallett, and possibly Cam Newton in some order (I'd be stunned if either Mallett or Newton returns to school). Juniors Nick Foles (Arizona) and Blaine Gabbert (Missouri) could deepen the class but neither is a sure-fire first round prospect.