It was one of the most popular storylines for the Seattle Seahawks all offseason - Geno Smith potentially replicating his Pro Bowl form that saw him propel the team to an unlikely playoff spot in the first year post-Russell Wilson. It was one of the best stories in the NFL during the 2022 season.
As it turns out, it was a bridge too far for Smith.
He finished the 2023 regular season throwing 10 fewer touchdown passes (20), had 658 fewer passing yards (3,624), his completion percentage dropped from 69.8 to 64.7, and had a worse record at 9-8 as the Seahawks missed the playoffs.
While he threw two fewer interceptions and had five game-winning drives, he didn't have the consistency of last season. Now, with the regular season finished, NFL.com's ranked all 32 starting quarterbacks based on their seasons. Where does Smith rank?
NFL.com Smith middle of the pack at No. 18.
"A fireworks show of a 2022 season saw Smith paid handsomely in the offseason," NFL.com wrote. "But after throwing for 4,282 yards and a 30-11 TD-INT ratio in 2022, Smith couldn’t replicate such production a year later. He wasn’t bad, but he wasn’t great, often occupying the median range of the QB Index with a number of performances that were good enough but far from scintillating. We’ll fondly remember his performances in shootouts with Dallas and Detroit but point to games like Seattle’s Week 6 loss to Cincinnati as an example of what 2023 was for Smith."
Smith couldn't quite reach the heights of last season. He had the Seahawks sitting nicely at 6-3 on the year before that disastrous four-game losing streak ultimately paved the way for Seattle to miss the playoffs.
With Pete Carroll now out as head coach, there will be changes for the organization going forward, but exactly what the means for Smith is unknown.
He has an out in his three-year, $75 million conract in 2024 if the Seahawks feel inclined, and with the franchise holding the No. 16 overall pick in the upcoming draft, exactly what John Schneider and Co. will do is going to be an interesting storyline to follow.
Smith didn't have the season many felt he needed to have in order for the Seahawks to make the postseason, and Shook's 18th-placed ranking feels appropriate. However, it is worth noting that Seattle's shortcomings this year aren't all on Smith, but as is the case more often then not, the buck starts and stops with the quarterback.
Geno was good, but not great, and unfortunately, that wasn't enough for Seattle to clinch back-to-back postseason appearances.
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