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When the Seattle Seahawkstraded away starting quarterback Geno Smith to the Las Vegas Raiders, there were understandable feelings of shock among the 12th Man. General manager John Schneider and head coach Mike Macdonald both made repeated statements about how they expect Smith to be "their guy" for the 2025 season. Even offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak made a point to mention how coaching Smith was a "big draw" for him to come to Seattle.
However, when the Seahawks gave Smith an initial offer, instead of giving a counter offer back, he requested a trade. During his introductory press conference, Smith said he has no "hard feelings" towards anyone in the Seahawks organization. Claimed it was merely business.
Multiple things can be true. Yes, it is entirely believable Smith does not have hard feelings for his former team, and truly did make a business decision. Smith is a consummate professional. But that doesn't mean there weren't reasons why he felt he needed to make said business decision. Smith had approached the Seahawks for an extension prior to the 2024 season, and obviously did not receive one. Apparently, as outlined in an article from Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated, Smith felt there was a disconnect between him and Seattle about what the two sides wanted.
Smith claims the initial offer given by the Seahawks was "well shy" of the annual average per year number he desired. But the 2022 Comeback Player of the Year didn't just want money, he wanted security. Completely understandable for a quarterback who will turn 35 during October of the 2025 season. While Smith's body has less "mileage" on it than a typical soon-to-be-35-year-old quarterback, due to his years on the bench as a backup, 35 will still be 35.
According to Smith, he felt as if Seattle's offer had too many "escape hatches" to get out of the contract. We at Seahawks Wire theorized this may have been a contributing reason why Smith declined the Seahawks' deal, considering how Sam Darnold's contract gives the team similar ways to escape it.
Smith said of his former team:
I completely understand how and why Geno Smith felt as if he had been shown some disrespect by Seattle. In each of his three years as the Seahawks starter, Smith guided his team to winning records each season. He made two Pro Bowls, he helped the team qualify for a Wild Card spot in 2022, and he set the Seahawks single-season passing yards record... twice! By all objective standards, Smith was a success in Seattle.
On the flip side, I also understand entirely why the Seahawks didn't want to commit to Smith long term as well. As previously stated, his age alone made it difficult to sell fans on him being a franchise quarterback. While he has certainly outplayed any expectations, Smith was always a bridge between Russell Wilson and whoever their next franchise guy would be. Additionally, Smith's proclivity for turnovers (15 interceptions last year, including a league-leading four in the red zone) helped give this offense a hard ceiling. It became clear after another playoff-less season identical to 2023 that Seattle needed to make some considerable changes, even at the most important position in the game.
For now, Smith and the Seahawks got what they wanted. Smith got his money and security with Vegas. Reuniting with head coach Pete Carroll and getting the chance to work with offensive coordinator Chip Kelly are added bonuses. As for the Seahawks, they get less expensive and considerably younger at quarterback. It should be noted both sides are taking risks here. Smith is a good quarterback and teams often learn the hard way there are some players they shouldn't have let walk out of the door. But Smith had a good thing going in Seattle, and there are just as many examples of players (cough cough, Russell Wilson, cough) who realize the grass isn't always greener on the other side.
For the sake of both sides, hopefully this isn't a situation like Russell Wilson's, where both realize they were better off together than apart.
This article originally appeared on Seahawks Wire: Former Seahawks QB Geno Smith discusses why he wanted out of Seattle
Continue reading...
However, when the Seahawks gave Smith an initial offer, instead of giving a counter offer back, he requested a trade. During his introductory press conference, Smith said he has no "hard feelings" towards anyone in the Seahawks organization. Claimed it was merely business.
Multiple things can be true. Yes, it is entirely believable Smith does not have hard feelings for his former team, and truly did make a business decision. Smith is a consummate professional. But that doesn't mean there weren't reasons why he felt he needed to make said business decision. Smith had approached the Seahawks for an extension prior to the 2024 season, and obviously did not receive one. Apparently, as outlined in an article from Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated, Smith felt there was a disconnect between him and Seattle about what the two sides wanted.
Smith claims the initial offer given by the Seahawks was "well shy" of the annual average per year number he desired. But the 2022 Comeback Player of the Year didn't just want money, he wanted security. Completely understandable for a quarterback who will turn 35 during October of the 2025 season. While Smith's body has less "mileage" on it than a typical soon-to-be-35-year-old quarterback, due to his years on the bench as a backup, 35 will still be 35.
According to Smith, he felt as if Seattle's offer had too many "escape hatches" to get out of the contract. We at Seahawks Wire theorized this may have been a contributing reason why Smith declined the Seahawks' deal, considering how Sam Darnold's contract gives the team similar ways to escape it.
Smith said of his former team:
I completely understand how and why Geno Smith felt as if he had been shown some disrespect by Seattle. In each of his three years as the Seahawks starter, Smith guided his team to winning records each season. He made two Pro Bowls, he helped the team qualify for a Wild Card spot in 2022, and he set the Seahawks single-season passing yards record... twice! By all objective standards, Smith was a success in Seattle.
On the flip side, I also understand entirely why the Seahawks didn't want to commit to Smith long term as well. As previously stated, his age alone made it difficult to sell fans on him being a franchise quarterback. While he has certainly outplayed any expectations, Smith was always a bridge between Russell Wilson and whoever their next franchise guy would be. Additionally, Smith's proclivity for turnovers (15 interceptions last year, including a league-leading four in the red zone) helped give this offense a hard ceiling. It became clear after another playoff-less season identical to 2023 that Seattle needed to make some considerable changes, even at the most important position in the game.
For now, Smith and the Seahawks got what they wanted. Smith got his money and security with Vegas. Reuniting with head coach Pete Carroll and getting the chance to work with offensive coordinator Chip Kelly are added bonuses. As for the Seahawks, they get less expensive and considerably younger at quarterback. It should be noted both sides are taking risks here. Smith is a good quarterback and teams often learn the hard way there are some players they shouldn't have let walk out of the door. But Smith had a good thing going in Seattle, and there are just as many examples of players (cough cough, Russell Wilson, cough) who realize the grass isn't always greener on the other side.
For the sake of both sides, hopefully this isn't a situation like Russell Wilson's, where both realize they were better off together than apart.
This article originally appeared on Seahawks Wire: Former Seahawks QB Geno Smith discusses why he wanted out of Seattle
Continue reading...
