The Seattle Seahawks and quarterback Geno Smith have agreed to a three-year, $105 million contract extension, sources tell NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport. The deal includes $52 million in the first year.
Seahawks, QB Geno Smith agree to three-year, $105M deal. (via @TomPelissero and @RapSheet) pic.twitter.com/V64NXMrSbU
— NFL (@NFL) March 6, 2023
Instead of becoming a free agent, Smith decided to resign with the team he won Comeback Player of the Year with last season for more money per year – than he made in his entire 10-year NFL career.
In his first year as a starter with the Seahawks, Smith had career-highs in yards (4,282), touchdowns (30) and QBR (60.8) while leading the league in completion percentage (69.8) on his way to his first Pro Bowl selection.
Before Seattle, Smith spent six years with the Jets, Giants and Chargers, most of which as a backup. A second-round pick by the Jets in 2013, he started his first two years with New York but struggled, throwing 34 interceptions to just 25 touchdowns. He was then benched before the 2015 season after an infamous locker room altercation that placed him on injured reserve with a broken jaw.
From that point until 2022, Smith spent his career as a backup, signing with Seattle in 2019 to back up Russell Wilson. When the Seahawks traded Wilson to the Broncos before this past season, Smith beat out former Denver QB Drew Lock for the starting job and then beat Wilson and the Broncos in Week 1, never missing a snap while leading his team to an unlikely playoff berth. He became the first quarterback since Rich Gannon in 1999 to be selected to his first Pro Bowl in Year 10 or later of his career.
https://twitter.com/GenoSmith3/status/1632803418690527232?s=20
Per Over The Cap, Smith’s $35 million AAV is tied for 10th among NFL quarterbacks, just below new Saints quarterback Derek Carr‘s $37.5 million yearly average. These two deals will undoubtedly have an effect on the offseason QB market, as guys like Daniel Jones and Lamar Jackson are looking for extensions from their organizations and will expect similar numbers.
What do you think of this extension for Smith? Let us know by leaving a reaction at the bottom of this post or by tweeting us @celebsecrets.
