NFL
By: Mark T. Wilson
The Seattle Seahawks were a surprise playoff team this season and now that their season is over thanks to a Wild Card defeat at the hands of the San Francisco 49ers, the question of what to do with Geno Smith is now hanging over their head. Should the Seahawks sign Geno Smith or should they let him walk and hand the keys over to someone younger?
Mostly viewed as a career backup, Smith took his opportunity this season with the Seahawks and rejuvenated his career. Following the offseason trade that sent Russell Wilson to the Denver Broncos, which netted them QB Drew Locke, Smith was believed to begin the year as Locke’s backup. But it’s funny how things work out in this business.
From the start, Smith came out hot against Wilson and the Broncos in Week 1 and hasn’t looked back since. He would finish the 2022-23 season with 4282 yards, 30 TDs, and a completion percentage of 69.8. Besides the best numbers of his career, Smith led the Seahawks to a 9-8 record and a playoff berth in what was supposed to be sort of a rebuilding year.
Although things didn’t work out against the 49ers, Smith is set to hit the free agent market and if the Seahawks are not careful, they could find themselves right where they were this offseason.
With Derek Carr, Tom Bardy, and possibly Aaron Rodgers available, Geno Smith may be the best fit for what the Seahawks are trying to do. Paired with two great receivers in DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett, the Seahawks’ offense should be better than it was this year. And let’s not forget they’re also armed with the 5th pick in the 2023 NFL Draft where they can address another area of need.
Will The Seattle Seahawks Pay Geno Smith?
But for those still questioning if the Seahawks should resign Smith, think about this. What better options are there? Adding Carr means giving up draft capital or possible players since he’s still under contract with the Las Vegas Raiders. Rodgers is still good but he’s also 39 years old. The same goes for Brady (45). They’re both proven winners but will they bring more to the table than Smith?
Another thing to consider is chemistry. Any one of these QBs or anyone who will be drafted will need to come in and learn a new system and teammates. The Seahawks have rallied around Smith as their leader so why break that momentum? No one has Smith pegged for the Hall of Fame but he does give the Seattle Seahawks their best option this offseason and beyond. But how much are his services worth after posting the best year of his career?
According to Spotrac, his Market Value is $39M which has him projected to sign a 2-year deal in the ballpark of $78-79M which will place him as the 9th highest-paid QB in the league. Is he worth that? Well, that depends on what the Seahawks think.
If anything, Smith has proven how vital he is to the team and he’s only 32 years of age. The upside for Smith is that for a player who has been in the league since 2013, prior to this season, Smith has not played more than 5 games in a season in the last 6 years. His body is not as battle-tested as worn down as Carr’s and the others. Meaning, he may have added a few more years to his career by holding a clipboard.
What it boils down to is. The Seattle Seahawks were not supposed to contend this year and they did. Geno Smith was not supposed to start this year and he did. All he did was prove the doubters wrong and possibly earn himself a huge payday in the process.
