After the Seattle Seahawks traded Russell Wilson last offseason, it looked like they would be relegated to the netherworld of poor quarterback play, not to mention a rebuilding process.
They named Geno Smith, whom many considered nothing more than a decent backup QB, the starter when the 2022 season began, and against all odds, he turned in a brilliant season.
Smith put up 4,282 passing yards and 30 touchdown passes while leading the NFL with a 69.8 percent completion rate, and behind his play, the Seahawks went 9-8 and made the playoffs.
But he is about to become a free agent, and it is unknown whether they will commit to keeping him in the Pacific Northwest.
When Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times asked Seahawks GM John Schneider if the team would consider using the franchise tag on Smith, he said something but said nothing at the same time.
I asked Seahawks GM John Schneider today if they’d consider using franchise tag on Geno Smith and he declined to answer other than to say that it’s “a tool” that can be used. So there you go…..
— Bob Condotta (@bcondotta) February 28, 2023
Prior to this season, Smith had started just five games in seven seasons, and he had struggled with his health, as he missed time due to a fractured jaw and torn ACL.
He showed some flashes of promise in his first two pro seasons with the New York Jets, but he was very interception-prone, and the Jets failed to make the playoffs both years.
Seattle isn’t a contender by any means, but they do have two studs at wide receiver in Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf, both of whom surpassed 1,000 receiving yards in 2022.
In addition, rookie running back Kenneth Walker III had a very nice year with 1,050 yards and nine touchdowns and finished second in the Offensive Rookie of the Year balloting.
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Former Seahawks Teammate Speaks Out On Russell Wilson Critics
