Geno Smith News

The Seattle Seahawks and quarterback Geno Smith have agreed to a new three-year contract worth $105 million, Ian Rapoport reports. Smith was the Comeback Player of the Year in 2022, and has now been rewarded with a new three-year contract worth over $100 million for helping to bring the Seahawks to the playoffs despite extremely low expectations in the preseason. The Seahawks do currently have the fifth overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, and this move should make them a viable trade partner for other teams that are looking for a rookie quarterback. 2022 was Smith's first season as a starter since 2014 with the New York Jets, and he completely exceeded expectations with his opportunity, completing 69.8% of his passes for 4,282 yards, 30 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. He'll look to build on his impressive first season with the Seahawks in 2023.

A second-round pick of the Jets in the 2013 NFL Draft, Smith flamed out in his initial stop in the NFL and served as a journeyman until winning a quarterback battle against Drew Lock last summer in Seattle in the post-Russell Wilson era. Smith proceeded to put together an impressive campaign, completing 70 percent of his passes for 4,282 yards, 30 touchdowns and 11 interceptions while also running for 366 yards and one more score. With wide receivers DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett and running back Kenneth Walker also locked up for the next three seasons, the 32-year-old Smith has the skill-position talent at his disposal to continue to put up fruitful stat lines.

Smith would likely be one of the top signal callers if he were to hit the open market this offseason, but it appears as if the Seahawks would like to avoid that possibility as talks regarding an extension are seemingly moving in a positive direction. The 32-year-old quarterback put up career-best numbers across the board in his first season in Seattle, but given this was Smith's first year as a starter since 2014, any extension would likely be of the shorter variety as the team attempts to safeguard itself from any sort of regression.

Considering the quality of the defense he was facing, it was a solid performance from Smith in his playoff debut, but the Seahawks' defense fell apart in the second half. The 32-year-old will head into free agency after a remarkable comeback season that saw him lead the NFL with a 69.8 percent completion rate and throw for 4.282 yards and 30 touchdowns while starting all 17 games for Seattle, and his playoff performance shouldn't dissuade a team in need of a veteran QB from offering him a big contract.

Smith threw an interception on his first pass attempt of the game, which largely set the tone for the rest of his performance. While he threw multiple picks for only the second time this season, Smith managed to lead a few key drives. The first came early in the third quarter, which he capped by connecting with Tyler Lockett for a 36-yard touchdown. Though both ended in field goals, Smith also led drives late in the fourth quarter and in overtime to help Seattle win the game and keep their playoff hopes alive. Regardless of the team outcome, Smith had a very successful season from a personal perspective and should be a starter in 2023 -- whether that's for the Seahawks or with another team.

He added 18 rushing yards on five carries. While Smith didn't produce much yardage, leaving that to Kenneth Walker and the backfield during a game in which Seattle never trailed, he was sharp when he needed to be and hit backup tight ends Colby Parkinson and Tyler Mabry for touchdowns in the first and second quarters. He's now one passing TD shy of 30 for the year, and with the Seahawks still alive in the race for a playoff spot, Smith might need to continue his remarkable comeback season for one more game in Week 18 against the Rams.