Pros and cons of Geno Smith potentially being Seahawks long-term quarterback

Verdict

Let’s be clear, Geno Smith has proven that he is a legitimate starting NFL quarterback. His transformation over the past few years has been incredible and inspirational. I am excited to watch Smith play QB for the Seahawks this season, especially in a new scheme.

The question isn’t about whether we like Smith though, it’s whether he’s a franchise quarterback. When I say franchise quarterback, I’m talking about a tier that includes the likes of Patrick Mahomes, and Joe Burrow. It’s not fair to compare Smith to those guys, but I would argue that any strong franchise should be scratching and clawing until they find someone who is remotely close to what those two provide. 

Smith’s contract is absolutely incredible for this team. He makes up just 10 percent of the team’s cap and there’s an opportunity to get out of his contract next year with just a $13.5 million cap hit. If he’s brought back, he’ll be making nearly $40 million in 2025. If he excels with Macdonald and Grubb, that could look like a steal again but could be an unrealistic number if Schneider and company feel they need more from the position after 2024. 

I think that number, and the likelihood that this year has a realistic ceiling of a wild card team that could potentially win a playoff game, is enough for leadership to continue to evaluate, without committing. There’s a reason why Schneider gave up draft capital to get Sam Howell from Washington.

There are potential free agents that could become very attractive to Seattle if Smith slipped, and next year’s draft class has some big-time names and a few interesting players that will undoubtedly rise up through the fall. 

If this team was terrible or great, there would be more pressure to make a decision on Smith’s future right now. That is simply not the case though, as Schneider and Macdonald are likely on a path to trying to put a Super Bowl-caliber roster together by 2026. In the meantime, they can continue to evaluate Smith, while also seeing if their belief in Sam Howell proves fruitful, or if a Josh Allen type of prospect catches the eye of Schneider. 

Can Smith become the franchise quarterback for the Seahawks through the 2020s? Yes. Will Geno Smith be the franchise quarterback for the Seahawks through the 2020s? No.

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