Reports: Seahawks signing QB Geno Smith for 4th year in Seattle
Apr 14, 2022, 10:58 AM | Updated: 11:03 am
Seahawks QB Geno Smith gestures as he heads off the field after Sunday's win over the Jaguars. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
(AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
The Seahawks’ quarterback room will look very different in 2022 after trading longtime starter Russell Wilson, but the team will reportedly be bringing back a very familiar face who has been with the team for a while now.
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Geno Smith, who served as Russell Wilson’s backup the last three seasons, is reportedly returning to Seattle. Jordan Schultz was the first to report Smith re-signing with the Seahawks while CBS Sports’ Josina Anderson later verified the report, saying she talked to Smith directly, who told her he is re-signing with the Seahawks.
According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, Smith’s deal with the Seahawks is for one year and is worth up to $7 million.
During his three years with the Seahawks, Smith has appeared in just five games. Four of those games came last season after Wilson suffered a severe finger injury, including three starts, with Smith completing 68.4% of his passes for 702 yards and five touchdowns to one interception. He also rushed for one score and lost a fumble.
GENO SMITH FINDS DK 🍿
(via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/GSgjQTOnez
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) October 8, 2021
Those three starts in 2021 were Smith’s first since 2017. Smith, 31, entered the league as a second-round draft pick of the New York Jets in 2013. For his career, Smith has appeared in 45 games (34 starts), completing 58.8% of his passes for 6,917 yards, 34 touchdowns and 37 interceptions. He also has 701 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns.
Smith has been a free agent this entire offseason after his last contract expired, but Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll and general manager John Schneider made it clear publicly that they wanted Smith back in Seattle for the 2022 season.
Carroll said the Seahawks are looking all over as it pertains to the QB position. Mentioned Geno Smith and how he knows the team and system and that he played well last year and would have a leg up on anyone else they bring in. Said "there are some other options, too."
— Seattle Sports (@SEASports710) March 22, 2022
That’s reportedly now the case. Smith will join a quarterback room that has Drew Lock, a 2019 second-round pick who came to Seattle from Denver in the Wilson trade, and 2020 fourth-round pick Jacob Eason.
The Seahawks have the No. 9 overall pick in the NFL Draft later this month as well as picks 40 and 41, so they could draft a quarterback early. Whether or not the Seahawks draft a quarterback, Smith figures to compete for the starting job in 2022 alongside Lock. Smith may enter the competition with a head start as he made those three starts in offensive coordinator Shane Waldron’s offense last season.
