Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

Jerrod Johnson intrigues me.

Intrigues me in the same way that receiver Mike Williams did a few years back when Pete Carroll first came to town to take over the Seattle Seahawks.

I use the word intrigue here, because based on his performance in rookie camp, it's hard to judge exactly what Johnson brings to the table. Basically all we saw were a handful of raw prospects playing two-hand touch, so forgive me if I'm hesitant to get too excited about what we've seen or heard thus far.

Yet much like Williams, Johnson is a raw and well-traveled prospect who might be worth rooting for this week as the team participates in official voluntary workouts.

Honestly, though, when I first heard that the 'Hawks had signed Johnson, per Seahawks.com, a few weeks ago, I didn't really give too much thought to the move.

It was only after seeing him at rookie camp that I started to recall the story of a passer at Texas A&M who looked like a potential Heisman candidate with a touching story of loss and the hope for redemption that ESPN's David Ubben penned prior to the 2010 season.

Unfortunately, I lost track of Johnson soon after as he struggled with the Aggies that season and lost the starting job to future Miami Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill.

Such is life in sports—one minute you're the starting quarterback for a major college football team trying to put your life back together after losing your father unexpectedly, the next you're a journeyman simply hoping to catch on in the NFL.

After stops in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh with the Eagles and Steelers, not to mention stints in both the UFL and AFL, could a player who still qualifies as a rookie make the 'Hawks' final roster?

For all we know, Johnson may end up as nothing more than a passing fancy that over the course of a weekend caught Pete Carroll's eye, who in a few days, months or weeks could be cut loose like so many other prospects.

Still, I'd like to say that I have hope for Johnson simply because the options behind current starter Russell Wilson leave me feeling a little uneasy.

Looking back, I can understand why the 'Hawks traded Matt Flynn to Oakland, but the choice of Brady Quinn to serve as backup to Wilson seemed uninspired. It was almost as if the front office begrudgingly opted for Quinn in seeing him as the least objectionable choice from a bland mix of contestants.

Maybe with a fresh start in Seattle Quinn can make a name for himself after kicking around the league himself for several years, but quite frankly, I hope the 'Hawks never need to find out.

As for Josh Portis, by this point I feel we know what we're getting after having seen him at camp for several years now. He's a developmental prospect who really hasn't developed. Where you wish to lay blame for that is up to you, but I'd imagine everyone sees this year as a now-or-never situation for him in terms of his future.

Of course, in a few weeks' time who knows what will happen, but I like Johnson's odds and give him a puncher's chance. He has the size and skill to potentially put the likes of Quinn and Portis on edge, and if he continues to show that his mechanics are sound, he could make it this year.

Either way, fingers crossed that by the end of summer the 'Hawks have a new quarterback waiting in the wings who intrigues a few more people than just me. If that happens to be Jerrod Johnson, I think it may solid step forward for both him and the team.