Seahawks keep QB Geno Smith, but options remain open
The Seattle Seahawks have informed Geno Smith he will remain on the roster through the end of the week, thus fully guaranteeing the veteran quarterback's $12.7 million base salary for 2024, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Thursday.
Although Smith's salary is assured, the Seahawks could still trade him before March 18, ESPN reported.
After serving as mostly a backup for the Jets, Giants and Chargers, Smith has turned his career around in Seattle, earning the starting job and Associated Press Comeback Player of the Year honors in 2022.
As a second-year starter with Seattle in 2023, Smith played well but regressed from his previous form, throwing for 3,624 yards (4,282 in 2022), 20 touchdowns (30 in 2022) and a 92.1 passer rating (100.9 in 2022).
Smith's affordable salary compared to current market salaries for QBs played a factor in the decision to retain him, sources told Schefter.
As it stands now, the 33-year-old quarterback will remain QB1 as he heads into his second year of a three-year, $75 million contract. But GM John Schneider and new head coach Mike Macdonald could change their minds.
"The quarterbacks, Drew [Lock] and Geno [Smith], have been the main guys we've talked to," Macdonald told Seattle Sports' "Brock and Salk" Show on Monday. "There's some decisions that we've got to make here pretty soon."
So, what now?
Seattle could get younger at quarterback via the draft, free agency or in a trade.
Re-signing Lock, a pending free agent, would provide competition, but he's not a long-term solution. The Seahawks could also select a quarterback in the QB-rich 2024 NFL Draft. Seattle has the 16th pick in the first round, where it might find Washington's Michael Penix Jr., Michigan's J.J. McCarthy and Oregon's Bo Nix.
With former University of Washington offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb joining Macdonald's staff, the Penix talk could heat up. In 2023, the left-hander led Washington to a 14-1 season and a berth in the national title game, where it lost to Michigan.
Seattle hasn't drafted a quarterback within the top six rounds since it selected Russell Wilson in the third round of the 2012 draft. The Seahawks have not selected a QB in the first round since 1993 (Rick Mirer of Notre Dame).
If the Seahawks address other positions of need in the draft, a trade for Chicago QB Justin Fields could be Seattle's best bet.
The 24-year-old dual-threat quarterback could be on his way out from Chicago after a 10-28 record in three years. The Bears hold the No. 1 overall pick in the draft, which will be held April 25-27 in Detroit.
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