Pro Football Focus has released a list of the best signings so far in the NFL’s 2023 free agency period. One of the items that made the list was the Seahawks and their super team-friendly deal with quarterback Geno Smith.
PFF was projecting that Smith’s contract would be a legit three years, $105 million. While that’s the total potential value, Smith would have to reach all his incentives three years in a row to actually reach that amount. In truth, Geno’s new deal is for only $25 million per season and he only got $40 million guaranteed, whereas PFF had projected $72.5 million guaranteed.
That gap makes Smith’s contract arguably the best bargain on the market in 2023. Here’s what they had to say about the deal.
“This deal obviously got done before free agency even began, but it will be in the running for the signing of the offseason. The league has been devoid of any true mid-tier contracts at quarterback — as evidenced by the Daniel Jones deal above and the Derek Carr deal below — but this contract legitimately fits that description for a quality starting quarterback… We underestimated the lack of leverage Geno Smith had in negotiations, with roughly $17 million in career earnings to date and a flooded quarterback market this offseason potentially limiting his options, and Seattle took full advantage.”
The lack of leverage for Smith was indeed an often overlooked point during the negotiation phase. Seattle’s No. 5 overall pick was the heaviest part, but Smith’s age (he’s 32), the QB market and his small sample size of strong play all weighed against him – helping Seattle score a massive win before free agency began.
Smith’s sudden ascension, pair with the team’s surprise success in the 2022 NFL draft have put them in position to become a contender. Another strong offseason will make them legitimately dangerous.
