The Seattle Seahawks have decided what to do with going forward.
Smith’s current contract will keep him with the Seahawks until the Geno Smith 2024 campaign, according to Jordan Schultz of Bleacher Report.
On Thursday, February 29, Schultz stated, “Sources to @BleacherReport: The #Seahawks have informed Geno Smith he will be on the roster in 2024 under his current contract.” Smith, according to Seattle’s front office, has gotten a commitment.
There were been doubts about Geno Smith’s future with the Seahawks.
The Seahawks renegotiated Smith’s deal to free up cap space one week prior to the release of the report. Seattle gained $4.8 million in salary cap space by converting his $9.6 million roster bonus into a signing bonus.
Moreover, earlier this month the Seahawks let a deadline expire that guaranteed his $12.7 million base salary in 2024. Additionally, he was slated to get his roster bonus on March 18, but after turning it into a signing bonus, he got it about a month early.
There were doubts about whether Smith would be part of the Seahawks’ plans for the 2024 campaign before Schultz’s report and the team’s contract renegotiation. The Seahawks’ decision to fire Pete Carroll as head coach and appoint Mike Macdonald as his replacement increased such worries.
A week before, Macdonald responded in a mysterious way when asked about Smith and Drew Lock’s prospects in Seattle.
“That’s a difficult question, and I probably can’t respond to it at this time,” Macdonald said on Thursday, February 22 to Aaron Levine of KCPQ Seattle. However, we’re working really hard on those guys. In an effort to learn more about them, I’ve held talks with them. Recognize their personalities, ambitions, backgrounds, and characteristics of their families and places of origin. I had no idea that they were involved in any way in this. We are currently in the process of discovering who they are. Naturally, one, two, or both of them would work with our future plans. I probably don’t have the answer for you right now, though.
The Reasons Behind Seahawks Bringing Geno Smith Rewind
With 3,624 passing yards, a 92.1 passer rating, and 20 touchdowns and nine interceptions, Smith had a strong 2023 year. He ended the year as a Pro Bowl alternate. Nevertheless, after qualifying for the playoffs in 2022, Seattle was unable to repeat. In addition, Smith’s play declined in 2023 as opposed to 2022.
Smith completed 69.8% of his passes for 4,282 yards with 30 touchdowns against 11 interceptions in the 2022 season, earning him a 100.9 passer rating. In terms of passing yards and touchdowns, he was among the top five in the NFL and led the league in completion percentage.
It is noteworthy, though, that despite missing two games due to injury, Smith led the NFL in both comebacks (four) and game-winning drives (five). Smith actually had even better offensive (82.9 to 79.8) and passing (82.1 to 76.1) grades in 2023 compared to 2022, according to Pro Football Focus.
Smith’s $26.4 million salary cost, which is among the lowest of all quarterbacks, makes him a reasonable cap target, therefore moving Smith seemed counterintuitive to Seattle if they plan to contend in 2024.
At the NFL Combine, the Seahawks had already met quarterback Jayden Daniels; however, by the time they select at No. 16, he is probably off the board. Having said that, Seattle may still choose a quarterback at No. 16 and develop him in 2024 behind Smith.
