When the Seattle Seahawks announced they were keeping quarterback Geno Smith on their roster through Friday, making his $12.7 million salary for 2024 fully guaranteed, it was presumed he would return as the starter next season. However, that might not necessarily be the case.
Smith, the 2022 NFL Comeback Player of the Year, has turned his career around in Seattle. Once viewed as a draft bust, the Seahawks’ quarterback has earned Pro Bowl selections in consecutive seasons and led the NFL in completion rate in 2022.
- Geno Smith stats 2023: 92.1 QB rating, 64.7% completion rate, 3,624 passing yards, 20-9 TD-INT, 7.3 yards per attempt, 8-7 record
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After his breakthrough season in 2022, Seattle signed Smith to a three-year contract worth $105 million. It immediately rewarded the veteran quarterback for his career turnaround, while providing the Seahawks’ front office with the ability to move off his contract rather easily in 2024 or 2025.
When Seattle fired Pete Carroll, ushering in a new era for the team, some speculated on Smith’s future with the Seahawks. While those questions were seemingly erased after the club kept him on the roster, making his salary fully guaranteed next season, it appears the door is still open to a change at quarterback.
As explained by Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times, the Seahawks’ decision on Smith doesn’t necessarily guarantee he will be with the team in Week 1. The veteran quarterback is still owed a $9.6 million roster bonus, which is due on March 18, leaving the door open for a trade.
Seattle’s primary motivation for keeping Smith on the roster and guaranteeing his 2024 salary ties back to the market price for quarterbacks. While he didn’t replicate his numbers from the 2022 campaign, Smith still played at an extremely high level.
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- Geno Smith contract: $31.2 million cap hit in 2024, $35.7 million cap hit in 2025
- $25 million cap savings if released in 2025
At a time when Baker Mayfield could land a multi-year deal worth $30-plus million annually and Kirk Cousins, coming off a torn Achilles, might push for a $40 million average annual value, Smith fits right in line with the going rate for quality quarterbacks and his contract is even more team-friendly.
While it’s unlikely that Smith will be traded, the notion that he’s guaranteed to be the Seahawks’ quarterback in 2024 isn’t true. Seattle has given itself complete flexibility, with the roster bonus deadline leaving the door open to entertain trade offers if a strong enough offer is made in the next few weeks.
