It's standard operating procedure for the Seahawks to deal with contracts in the offseason. Any deal with Geno Smith will be no different. That doesn't mean anything about the team's assessment of his value this season.
As usual, the national media love to stir the pot, especially when it comes to the Seahawks. One reporter writes a speculative piece, and it gets picked up and spun by the next writer, and so on. The contract talks between the Hawks and Smith - or lack thereof - are a perfect example of this.
Here's one example from Max Dible of Athlon Sports. He takes the premise launched by Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report that the Seahawks are a potential landing site for Dak Prescott of the Dallas Cowboys. Now, there's a lot wrong with this, but for now, let me quote Dible. After noting that Geno Smith has been a Pro Bowler for the past two seasons, he adds," The notion that he is a Super Bowl-caliber QB strains credulity."
The Seattle Seahawks don't need Dak Prescott either
As our own Lee Vowell pointed out about this specific rumor, that's patently absurd. Oddly, it seemed to escape the attention of both Mssrs. Dible and Knox that the Seahawks would have to pay Prescott considerably more than the $25 million they'd save by releasing Smith. Let me tie Mr. Dible's comment about Smith to one of Mr. Vowell's.
If it "strains credulity" to picture Smith as a Super Bowl quarterback, I question what he's ever seen from Prescott. As Vowell correctly wrote, Prescott is only 2-5 in the playoffs. He's also just 5-5 in the regular season against what would be his new division rivals in the NFC West for his career. Is that the guy Seattle wants to pay at least $40 million per year? I would hope not.
As for the Seahawks and Geno Smith's contract negotiations, that's a non-story. As Vincent Frank wrote for Forbes, it's just business as usual for Seattle GM John Schneider. Unlike other articles, Frank gives a solid picture of the process in Seattle. Schneider typically doesn't renegotiate this close to the start of the season.
He also points out, quite correctly, that the Hawks already have a potential successor on the team. Schneider didn't trade two draft picks to have Sam Howell sit on the bench forever. Howell is clearly the heir apparent in Seattle. Whether that happens next season or later depends on how Geno Smith plays this year. That hasn't changed since Howell was signed. Smith's current contract status hasn't changed either. There is no controversy; it's just business as usual with the Seahawks.