All that was left of the Seahawks’ season followed Geno Smith into the huddle. As a matter of fact, it was past our cutoff time. It was a noisy crowd at Lumen Field. Defense for the Los Angeles Rams was active and looking to play spoiler. In the midst of a tense huddle, he yelled out, “Hey, just calm down. Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett stated, “It’s just football.” To paraphrase one of Geno’s friends: “Man, Geno just revealed to us who he’s always been. The man enjoys playing video games. He’ll keep his cool and keep playing even when the game is on the line.

It’s tough, especially when you first put yourself out there and encounter resistance. We had picks and everything like that, but it showed the fight and how you respond, which is what you want in a player and what you want in a teammate: somebody who is just going to keep on fighting. For Pete Carroll’s Seahawks this season, if there’s one phrase that’s more important than “all in” or “protect the ball,” it’s “the ideal of poise,” which Smith has exemplified more than any other. For the first time in his 10-year career, Smith is about to earn money that could change his life forever.

Despite throwing two interceptions, Smith led the Seahawks offence to a tie and overtime on Sunday. His 17-yard touchdown pass to Lockett in overtime was the difference as Seattle beat Los Angeles 19-16 in the regular season finale at Lumen Field. At the end of his first season as a starting quarterback in the NFL in eight years, 32-year-old Smith set four throwing records for the Seahawks. He shattered four records held by Russell Wilson, including completions, yards, and completion %, and he also surpassed a Matt Hasselbeck mark (pass attempts). It’s Smith’s first time making it to the Pro Bowl.

Since his initial deal with the New York Jets, he has never had an extended professional playing career. Back in 2013… He has spent the last seven years as a backup for four different teams, all on one-year contracts. The one-year, $3.5 million contract he had this season was to take over for the recently-traded Wilson as Seattle’s starting quarterback. This summer, he competed against Drew Lock for the job and won. Two months from now, he will be a free agency, not as a backup quarterback, but as a proven Pro Bowl passer who led a 9-8 team to the playoffs in his rookie season.

Depending on his performance, Geno Smith could make anywhere from $25 million to $30 million year in free agency, which is comparable to what a player like Ryan Tannehill, who is 35 years old and currently plays for the Tennessee Titans, earns.

After seven years of being a backup, Smith doesn’t seem like the type to pass up a chance to test the waters and see what kind of offer he can get. Despite the fact that the Seahawks would love to have him back in 2023 and beyond. Ultimately, though, it’s a business, you know. Smith remarked, “Football is a business.” “Many people face numerous choices. Having said that, I’ll stop here.

My relationship with the team, the management, and the rest of the organization is excellent, and it makes me feel terrific. However, commercial concerns must always come first. That is how I choose to view it. Totally get it. Not to mention, I have personal matters to attend to. That final paragraph suggests Smith is doing a little market research.

The NFL allows each team to utilise one franchise tag and one restricted free agent tender on a player each offseason. The tagging team retains the right to match any offer made by any team for the tagged player, or it receives significant compensation in the form of draught picks if the tagged player contracts with another team.

The Seahawks have the option of using the exclusive franchise tag as well. That would bind Smith to Seattle for the whole 2023 season at a salary equal to the league’s average annual quarterback compensation at the time (at the very least).

Being so rigid comes at a high price. For a quarterback to receive a franchise tag in 2023 for one year at a cost of $32.45 million, that sum is just an estimate. In 2023, the transition tag for a quarterback is projected to be worth $30.4 million. The Seahawks’ preseason outlook has shifted thanks to Smith’s performance this year.

After trading Wilson to Denver for several draught picks and three players, the Seahawks hope to use four first-round picks in the 2023 draught (two from the Broncos and two of their own) to acquire one of the multiple elite quarterback prospects that scouts anticipate this year’s draught class will produce.

The victory by Denver over the already-qualified Chargers The Seahawks’ first round choice in this year’s spring draught fell from third to fifth as a result of Sunday’s events. enough to warrant a change at quarterback. However, Seattle may choose exceptional run stoppers and pass protectors first because to Smith’s performance and the team’s dire need at the position on both the defensive and offensive lines.

If they re-sign Smith to the multiyear deal he is seeking and deserves, they won’t have to rush to start their draught quarterback. Former Broncos starting quarterback Lock, who did not play for the Seahawks this season, and Smith will both become free agents in March. PETER CARROLL APPRECIATE THE QB SITUATION, BUT… When asked on Sunday night about his quarterback plans for the year 2023, coach Pete Carroll largely avoided the question.

There’s work to be done, but our system works great. Carroll remarked, “The system is excellent.” So, for him to come in as a first-year starter and for five years or whatever it is to execute like he has done all year long, that’s what we’re asking these players to do.

Our quarterback position is strong, in my opinion, given Geno Smith’s 69.8 percent season completion rate, his many touchdown passes, and the several impressive plays he has engineered. In any case, he’s going to be a free agent, so we have some planning to do. Drew was never on the schedule, but I’ve seen a lot of his work and I’m a fan.

If we can get him signed, I think our quarterback situation is solid. We are well aware of the situation. Offense captain Lockett ended the season with nine touchdown receptions from Smith. That’s an extra year compared to 2020 and 2021. In 2023, he has made his preference for quarterback quite apparent.

Lockett remarked, “Shoot, I mean, he better come back.” Obviously I want the best for him, and I’m hoping that in our exit conversations we’ll be able to discuss what that is. But he’s played fantastically thus far. In a nutshell, he’s made quite the name for himself. I’m happy for him that he got this chance. He used that opportunity to his advantage, and now he’s performing really well.