Seattle Seahawks: Building off a surprising 2022, Part 1 – Re-sign Geno Smith
Andrew Elderbaum
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So what should Smith’s contract look like?
This is where things get interesting for both parties. The 2023 franchise tag should land around $30M for a quarterback, which is probably more than the Seattle Seahawks want to pay him for salary cap purposes.
Also, if Seattle tagged Smith, he would essentially be on a one-year prove-it deal again. And at his age, he would probably prefer more security than that.
Smith also excelled in an offense that he had three years to learn and get comfortable in. There’s a possibility he might not be as effective on another team. So Seahawks GM John Schneider has some leverage in contract negotiations as well.
What makes the most sense is a four-year deal with a smaller cap hit next season and the final year not guaranteed. If Geno continues to perform, his contract can always be extended or restructured, and if not, Seattle can move on without the cap hit killing them long-term.
For his part, Smith would have some financial security. He can let his play determine what happens after year two or three. A recent comparable is Ryan Tannehill‘s first deal with Tennessee which was for four years and just under $30M per season.
What do you think about the Seattle Seahawks re-signing Geno Smith? And what kind of contract is fair for both sides?