Former Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren drops news about Geno Smith many 12s won't like
By Lee Vowell
Mike Holmgren is certainly not one who lends himself to hyperbole. He normally speaks truths based on facts or things he has heard to be true. If Holmgren says the Seattle Seahawks are going to do something then he usually is not guessing. He understands these things to likely be correct and 12s should as well.
Recently, Holmgren appeared on KJR 933 in Seattle and he was speaking about the future of Geno Smith. Smith has been a divisive figure among 12s over the last three seasons since Russell Wilson was traded in the 2022 offseason. Smith has since led the NFL in several positive categories, but he also currently leads the league in interceptions.
Smith is also 34 years old and might not be the long-term answer for a quarterback in Seattle as long as "long term" does not mean eight years. Quarterbacks have seemingly been playing a bit better into their late 30s in relation to historical reference. Smith also was a backup for so long that he does not have the wear and tear on his body that a normal 34 year old might have.
Mike Holmgren thinks the Seahawks will extend Geno Smith past 2025
The question the Seahawks have is whether Smith is good enough to keep as QB1 while the team continues to do some kind of rebuild. Is Smith a good enough quarterback to push the team through a potentially deep playoff run if the rest of the team is good enough around him? He normally has not been the issue, though he was in Week 9 against the Los Angeles Rams when he threw two bad interceptions in the red zone.
Holmgren thinks that Seattle is going to Smith to another contract. The quarterback's current deal ends in 2025, when his cap hit is $38 million. That is not an atrocious amount of money for a good starting quarterback in the NFL, but it might be more than Seattle wants to spend in 2025 because Seattle would save $25 million by releasing Smith.
If the Seahawks think they can be big winners with Smith then he needs to be extended past next season. If not, the team should release him next offseason. According to Holmgren, Seattle is going to choose the former.