If the Seattle Seahawks are thinking about moving on from starting quarterback Geno Smith, an unofficial deadline is soon approaching.
Smith's $12.7 million salary for the 2024 season becomes fully guaranteed this Friday, Feb. 16, according to local reports. If Smith remains on the roster, his salary-cap charge for the upcoming campaign becomes a bloated $31.2 million, the 12th-highest figure among all quarterbacks and the highest cap charge on the Seahawks.
Despite the limiting number, the Seahawks shouldn't release Smith this offseason. Releasing Smith means general manager John Schneider would absorb a fairly manageable $17.4 million dead-cap charge for the upcoming season. Seattle would receive cap savings of $13.8 million, but most importantly, first-year head coach Mike Macdonald would be left without a clear-cut starting quarterback. Backup signal caller Drew Lock is scheduled for free agency and may search for a change of scenery.
Schneider owns the 16th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, but he traded their second-round selection for defensive lineman Leonard Williams. They’re not exactly in a prime spot to select Smith's potential successor.
Smith is coming off his second consecutive Pro Bowl appearance. The former West Virginia standout was slightly less effective in 2023 than he was in 2022, throwing for 3,624 yards, 20 touchdowns, and nine interceptions. Smith is entering the second season of a previously signed three-year, $75 million extension and remains under contract through the 2025 campaign.
Smith's contract status and presence keep the Seahawks' competitive window alive. They finished 9-8 this past season and barely missed out on a second consecutive playoff appearance. The NFC West promises to be a difficult division to navigate again in 2024, but Seattle should remain in the hunt if Schneider and Macdonald bring their vision to reality.
Macdonald has been busy assembling his first coaching staff. Former Washington Huskies offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb is filling the same role for Macdonald. Former Dallas Cowboys defensive line coach Aden Durde has been hired as Macdonald's defensive coordinator.
All three coaches are in elevated roles for the first time in their professional careers. Macdonald will appreciate having an experienced quarterback like Smith to lean on as he acclimates to leading his own franchise. The experience factor has been addressed by adding former Buffalo Bills defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier as an assistant head coach.
The hiring of Grubb makes Michael Penix Jr. a potentially intriguing quarterback prospect for the Seahawks. Penix Jr. led the nation with more than 4,500 passing yards in back-to-back seasons under Grubb's tutelage. In truth, I'm not sure where the Seahawks would draft Penix Jr. Taking him with the 16th overall pick feels rich, and as previously stated, they don't currently have a second-round pick. Perhaps a trade-down scenario emerges that makes taking Penix Jr. a little easier to swallow.
Smith's advancing age and short-term contract means Schneider must begin at least considering the future. The timing to replace him isn't great unless the Seahawks embrace taking a step backward, which isn’t how a new head coach envisions beginning his tenure. Smith keeps the Seahawks competitive in 2024 while the franchise begins pondering 2025 and beyond.
