Seahawks Move on from Geno Smith

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Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith celebrates with teammates after throwing a touchdown pass to wide receiver DK Metcalf, second from right, against the Los Angeles Rams, Jan. 5, 2025, in Inglewood, Calif. (Jennifer Buchanan / The Seattle Times)

Well, that escalated quickly. Seattle appears to be heading into a soft-rebuild season under 2nd-year head coach Mike Macdonald, as less than two days after Geno Smith reportedly requested a trade, the Seahawks shipped him off to Las Vegas. Smith reunites with former Seahawks coach Pete Carroll and gives the Raiders a veteran presence under center- and in my opinion some very strong QB play. While the deal won’t be official until the new league year begins on Wednesday, it’s clear that Seattle has decided to hit the reset button at quarterback.

So, why did this happen? Money, plain and simple. Negotiations between Smith’s camp and the Seahawks stalled when the two sides couldn’t bridge a $10 million gap. Smith wanted $45 million per year, while Seattle was only willing to go up to $35 million. Instead of meeting in the middle, they saw an opportunity to cash in and pivot.

The trade itself? A 2025 third-round pick from the Raiders in exchange for Smith. Not exactly a blockbuster return, but when your alternative is overpaying for a quarterback on the wrong side of 30, it makes sense. Fans and analysts have had mixed reactions to the move.

Smith’s tenure in Seattle was a rollercoaster. After years as a backup, he took over as the starter and shocked the league in 2022, leading the Seahawks to the playoffs and earning a Pro Bowl nod. He was solid again in 2023, but his 15 interceptions—the most since his rookie season—made it clear that Seattle needed to think long-term.

Now, the Seahawks are in a strange spot. They have some options, but none of them are slam dunks. Sam Howell is currently the only quarterback on the roster with starting experience, and while he had flashes of potential in Washington, he also led the league in interceptions and sacks taken in 2023. Not ideal.

Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

They could take a swing in the draft, but picking at No. 18 makes landing a franchise QB tough unless they trade up. Then there’s the free agent market, where one name keeps coming up—Sam Darnold.

One thing’s for sure: Seattle’s quarterback situation is far from settled. Moving on from Geno Smith was just the first domino to fall, and how the Seahawks approach the rest of the offseason will determine whether they take a step forward or end up scrambling for answers in 2025.