Huard: Why ‘polarizing’ is different to Seahawks GM than it is to fans

If you wade into the comments on social media, there are two Seattle Seahawks players who always seem to get reactions on opposite sides of the spectrum: quarterback Geno Smith and wide receiver DK Metcalf.

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On last week’s John Schneider Show with the Seahawks general manager and president of football operations, Seattle Sports’ Dave Wyman asked Schneider what it is that makes them polarizing.

Schneider’s initial response was interesting.

“I guess I’m not really aware of that,” he said.

Is that really true, or was it just a cagey answer from a person who needs to negotiate new deals with one or both of those players this offseason to get his team under the NFL’s salary cap for next season? Maybe a little of both, but according to former NFL quarterback Brock Huard, it’s more reality than you might think.

Huard shared his perspective on Monday’s edition of Brock and Salk on Seattle Sports.

“It really is so different,” he said about the “optics” for an NFL executive compared to those outside of a team’s front office. “… For him, the only thing polarizing is the value. There’s nothing polarizing to him about their talent, about their makeup, about their playmaking ability, their execution and production.”

The Seahawks have a tricky salary cap situation to wrestle with this offseason, even with the reported NFL projection for the 2025 cap coming in higher than expected. Smith carries a massive $44.5 million hit for next season, his last under contract, which is $18.1 million higher than in 2024. Metcalf is also entering his last season under contract, and he has a $31.875 million cap hit for 2025, over double the $15 million hit it was for last year (all figures are according to Spotrac).

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With the NFL combine in Indianapolis starting this week, it’s likely Schneider will be talking to their agents soon – if he isn’t already – about contract extensions that can lower those cap hits.

“The only polarizing factor, if there is one, for John Schneider and management is, OK, so let’s see where your agents come in when I get to Indy this week,” Huard said. “Let’s see how reasonable we can be as we start this conversation and dig into the numbers. Because that’s the only thing that could be polarizing.”

Huard said Schneider’s answer last week was a clear look at what matters to an NFL general manager.

“I think you hear from John Schneider very clearly (that) talent, productivity – (there’s) nothing polarizing about these guys,” he said. “Can we get them at the value that is most favorable for us? They’re in maybe is some of the polarization of the conversation.”

Hear Brock Huard’s full explanation in Blue 88, the middle segment of the podcast at this link or the player near the top of this post. Catch Brock and Salk from 6-10 a.m. weekdays on Seattle Sports.

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