Jackson was selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the 2nd round of the NFL Draft in 2006 out of Alabama State. He is 6'2, 225 and has a career 24 TDs to 22 interceptions. He's passed for 3,984 yards, has a career 76.6 passer rating with a 58.7% completion percentage.
Jackson wasn't particularly well-received in Minnesota despite playing quite well at times. In an interview with Judd Zulgad, he stated, "Since Day 1, I don't really think I was really welcome here anyways, because nobody really knew who I was, being from a smaller school. A lot more things probably play into it, too. It's just the way things are. I can't help that."
Just the way things happened, like the way I was thrown into there, the way where it was me or Brett [Favre] or all this stuff. Just a lot of different things played into it that kind of soured our relationship. Fans are going to be fans."
This relationship with the fans is probably not going to be much rosier here in Seattle. He's replacing (or appears to be replacing - will have to earn starting job obviously) a guy that's been here for a decade and has a very hard-core, loyal following. The hate and hysteria has already started but I would just caution a little optimism and a wait-and-see approach. He's been fairly inconsistent; flashing brilliance at times but then struggling at others, but could surprise some people. In my mind, he's not too different from Kevin Kolb. Kolb had some big games and some pretty terrible games, he just had his chance to show off more recently. If you look at the numbers, though, neither player is particularly impressive.
Judd Zulgad added his analysis when talking to 710ESPN as well. He said, "My thoughts are this, you would get - or Seattle would get - a quarterback who looks very good in practice, has a big-time arm and athletically is gifted."
"Tarvaris has really dedicated himself to being in shape, and coming into which ever camp he goes into in far better condition than he did last year. That being said, you've seen this guy play in games, I've seen him play in games, and as Brad Childress used to say, 'when the bullets fly' so to speak, Tarvaris has his issues."
Zulgad refers to Jackson's entire career body of work there, but especially his struggles in the playoffs in 2008, where he went 15-for-35 for 164 yards in the game with no touchdowns and one interception in a Wild Card Playoff round with a loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.
He's had his fair share of decent games as well - and seems to fit the mold as a game-manager type QB. The previous 3 games before the not-so-brilliant start in the playoffs that year, he showed consistency and the ability to take care of the ball. In those 3 games, here are his numbers: He went 11-17 for 165 yards, 4TDs to 0 interceptions to beat the eventual NFC Champion Arizona Cardinals; he went 22-36 for 233 yards and 1 TD to 0 interceptions in a loss to the Falcons; then in the final game of the season, he went 16-26 for 239 yards with a TD and a pick lead the Vikings in victory over the Giants.
He lost his starting job the next season (after the poor performance in the playoffs that I mentioned above) and has only started one game since. Could be better, could be worse.
Regardless, what Tarvaris brings to the Seahawks is a big arm and some mobility. Moreover, he knows the offense so should be able to convey it to our offense in short order. He will be cheap. He will not cost us any draft picks. He could be a bridge to the QBOTF, whenever he arrives in town.
It's not clear at this point that the Seahawks are done in the quarterback free agency sweepstakes, but it seems Jackson will be brought in to compete with Charlie Whitehurst for the starting position this season.
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