The Seattle Seahawks have some tough decisions to make about several veterans in the offseason. The team has no money to spend currently in 2025, and that will need to change. That means players such as Dre'Mont Jones, Rayshawn Jenkins, and Uchenna Nwosu could be released. So, too, could quarterback Geno Smith be let go.
Releasing Smith would save the team $25 million. His cap hit of $38.5 million is still just 12th among quarterbacks. The QB is expensive to keep through next year, but he is not that expensive, comparatively speaking.
But is he the future of the position for the Seahawks? That is what general manager John Schneider has to ask himself. If Smith is to be extended then he would be into his late-30s before his extension ends. That is a bit old for a team still trying to rebuild a bit. While the quarterback has been productive over the last three seasons, he has also thrown far too many red zone interceptions this season.
Seattle Seahawks should not think twice about bringing Kirk Cousins to the Pacific Northwest
One quarterback that may be available for Seattle to sign in the coming offseason is Kirk Cousins. Cousins signed a free agent contract this past offseason with the Atlanta Falcons, but his team has disappointed after getting off to a good start. Plus, Cousins leads the league in interceptions currently with 16. He is also 36 years old.
He has had a good career overall, but he also has not been able to lead his team to successful postseasons. In the playoffs, Cousins has just a 1-4 record, and he has not won a playoff game since 2019. This is the biggest reason that, if the Seahawks are looking for a different bridge quarterback other than Geno Smith to the team's next long-term quarterback, Cousins should not be the guy.
According to ESPN and various other media outlets, the Falcons are expected to cut Cousins before his $10 million roster bonus is due on March 17 next year. This would mean he is a free agent and can sign anywhere. He also might not be overly expensive because he is an aging quarterback who has not had a good season in 2024. He likely would be less expensive than Smith.
Besides the playoff record, though, one might wonder how well and how quickly Cousins would mesh with Seahawks receivers DK Metcalf and Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Cousins has good skill position players in Atlanta but has still struggled. He simply is not worth the risk to bring to Seattle as the team would probably just waste another year and should simply keep Smith instead.