The Seattle Seahawks reportedly worked out an extension with quarterback Geno Smith this week. The raw numbers equate to three years and $105 million for Smith’s new contract. $40 million of that has been reported to be guaranteed at signing, but all that money won’t count towards 2023 so how much cap room Smith takes up next season remains to be known.
But there was a safe assumption Smith would return to Seattle. He said he wanted to come back and the Seahawks made it well-known that they wanted Smith back. The deal, from what we know, seems to be a win for both sides.
But now Seattle can focus on other things other than what to do at QB. Choosing a quarterback at number 5 overall seems like a bit of waste when the team has other needs. Adding talent in free agency might also be needed to help the team during the time Geno remains quarterback of the team. Here are some changes Seattle should make now that Smith is back under contract.
Change number 1: Seahawks should release Gabe Jackson and Shelby Harris
We are still kind of waiting to see the exact breakdown of Smith’s contract extension in relation to how much it will affect the salary cap. But now that he has re-signed, Seattle needs to do something they should have already done. That is to release defensive tackle Shelby Harris and right guard Gabe Jackson. Letting both players go would open up cap space.
Harris is one of the oldest players on the roster even though he is just 31 years old. Releasing Harris isn’t needed because of his age per see, but more that his cap hit is $12,211,176 in 2023. His dead cap is $3,270,000 so the Seahawks would save almost $9 million by letting him walk. Harris isn’t a bad player but he also isn’t worth paying north of $12 million.
I am not sure why Jackson is still on the roster. My assumption is that he will be released prior to March 15th. Seattle already re-signed guard Phil Haynes this offseason which will pay Haynes a base salary of $4 million next season. Keeping Haynes and Jackson, who split snaps at right guard for most of 2022, makes zero sense.
Jackson’s cap hit is $11,262,223 in 2023 and releasing him saves Seattle $6,500,000. Between releasing Harris and Jackson, Seattle would create almost $15.5 million in cap room. Of course, cap space is malleable, so even with Geno Smith re-signing Seattle has the cap room to sign a good free agent or three but creating more cap room would be good.
Change number 2: Seahawks should trade back in the 2023 NFL draft
Trading back in the NFL draft wouldn’t really be a new thing for general manager John Schneider. He likes to do it. But Seattle has never had a top-five pick since Schneider and head coach Pete Carroll came to Seattle in 2010. And trading back in the 2023 NFL draft would still constitute a change.
There are many reasons for the Seahawks to move back in the upcoming draft. They have a few positions of need – defensive line, linebacker, and the interior of the offensive line – that likely require multiple players to help fix the issues instead of just one. Seattle needs high-end players, sure, but they can still get good players for those positions if moving back. Plus, if Seattle does move back, they probably would do so with teams like the Panthers or Raiders and that would mean Seattle still would have a top-ten choice.
Even trading back to choice number 9 should yield the possibility to take players like edge rusher Nolan Smith, defensive tackle Bryan Bresee, or defensive end Myles Murphy. Maybe even edge rusher Tyree Wilson. The point is that there will be a number of high-quality prospects to choose from.
But in return for trading down, the Seahawks could gain an extra first-round choice in the 2024 draft. Seattle had a great draft in 2022 after a few years of not doing that well. 2023 needs to be a home run as well. But adding a high pick in 2024 only keeps the momentum going for the Seahawks to have a younger, hungrier, and even more talented roster.
Change 3: Seahawks should be more aggressive in free agency
12s know by now how the Seahawks are going to view free agency under Schneider and Carroll. That is to not make any huge moves on day one or two or maybe even day three once players can officially be signed. Seattle likes to wait and wait and wait to sign anyone unless it happens to be one of their own guys. But this year should be different.
Even when the numbers finally come out about the Geno Smith signing, Seattle is going to have cap room (even more should they release Harris and Jackson). They shouldn’t blow all their space on one or two players, of course; The Seahawks are never going to do that. But signing Geno with the thought that the quarterback can lead the team to a deep run in the playoffs means putting players around him who can produce at a high level.
Smith is just 32 years and should have several seasons to be good, but Smith also likely isn’t good enough to get a team a victory late in the playoffs nearly by himself. Few quarterbacks can do that. That means the team overall needs to be made better even after signing Geno Smith. Plus, the window to win with Smith isn’t a long one, possibly only three years.
If Seattle decided to make a splashy signing and add a player like defensive tackle Javon Hargrave or defensive tackle Dre’Mont Jones then the team is going to be better. Add them to a mix of good draft picks and foundational players like Qunadre Diggs and DK Metcalf and the Seahawks are really close to being a contender. But, of course, Seattle isn’t going to make any splashy free agent signings because they never do (but there is always hope that changes).