The Seattle Seahawks No. 1 goal this offseason is likely to bring back quarterback Geno Smith. Smith won the starting job during the 2022 offseason over Drew Lock, who was part of the trade package acquired from the Denver Broncos in exchange for Russell Wilson. It ended up being the right decision for Seattle as Smith was a revelation.
Being a starter for the first time since 2014 when he was with the New York Jets, Smith thrived in 2022. He earned a Pro Bowl spot and won the Comeback Player of the Year award, leading the league in competition percentage.
Entering free agency, Smith is set to earn a massive contract. Some projections have him landing a contract that pays just under $80 million over the duration of two years. Smith has certainly earned the raise with his performance.
In an ideal world, the Seahawks will be able to sign Smith to a deal that doesn’t cripple their salary cap so that they can address other holes on the roster. Building upon last year’s performance is what the team should hope to do. But, he will turn 33 in October so the Seahawks could also be keeping an eye on a long-term option at the quarterback position.
One player who could potentially pique their interest in that regard is Zach Wilson of the Jets. Wilson has fallen out of favor with Gang Green after being selected No. 2 overall in the 2021 NFL Draft. He was benched twice during the 2022 season and owner Woody Johnson was adamant the team go all-in for a quarterback upgrade this offseason.
No indication has been given about the Jets wanting to move Wilson, as he is still part of their plans, likely as a backup. But, if they receive some calls, they could change their mind.
What kind of offer could it take to pry Z. Wilson away from New York? Given the extra draft capital that the Seahawks acquired from the Broncos for R. Wilson, they can certainly make a compelling offer.
Seattle can offer their 2023 second and fifth-round picks for Wilson as they have two in each round. That could be a solid contingency plan should Smith not work out. Head coach Pete Carroll and his staff should be given a lot of credit for the work they did with Wilson and Smith, so they might be able to coax some of the talents out of Wilson that the Jets have been unable to unearth.
The results haven’t been there yet in his career, but his draft pedigree and physical tools are tantalizing attributes for a franchise. There are certainly coaching staffs out there with confidence they can get more out of him than the Jets did. With Carroll at the helm, the Seahawks could be one of those teams.
