Geno Smith returns to Seattle on a 3-year, $105 million contract

Earlier than we proceed with this text, please take a second to offer Geno Smith a spherical of applause. There isn’t any want to face up, however acknowledge that his complete life has modified with the contract he signed with the Seattle Seahawks.

In line with NFL Community’s Ian Rapoport, the Seahawks signed Smith to a three-year, $105 million deal. A deal that at the beginning look sounds nice for Smith, however anybody aware of NFL contracts is aware of that in that league, all the deal is sort of all the time team-friendly. Nonetheless, whereas this deal is sweet for the Seattle Seahawks, it additionally rewards Smith for his glorious season 2022.

In line with Rapoport, Smith can earn $52 million by the tip of the primary calendar yr of the contract.

Smith will almost certainly be the Seahawks’ beginning quarterback in 2023, despite the fact that they’ve the fifth general choose within the upcoming NFL draft. With a lot of his cash loaded up entrance, if a quarterback drafted by the Seahawks in April is able to play someday in 2023, and even if you happen to take as much as Week 1 of 2024, they’ll have the ability to handle Smith’s contract. He’ll enter subsequent season because the starter for the Seahawks and can make most of his cash within the first yr.

Smith’s Greatest Payday

Even when this deal is a major enhance from the slightly below $4 million the Seahawks paid him for the 2022 season, Smith possible would solely have agreed to this extension if he pays near that $52 million quantity, even when he’s launched earlier than the tip of the season. one-year mark Smith is about to make much more cash in his NFL profession than he in all probability thought potential even final spring. Smith now does not must play the Chase Daniel sport, signing low-seven-figure contracts to be a shoulder-pad coach at second-string quarterback.

With just one stellar season below his belt, after all, the Seahawks had been going to tempt Smith into giving up the franchise tag by providing him a big sum of cash up entrance.. Had the Seahawks franchised him after the 2023 season, a 2024 franchise tag would have been brutal, particularly if that season ended with out a trusted quarterback to switch him. This three-year deal provides them loads of leeway in making a call on a quarterback of the long run, even when they resolve to go forward with the 30-plus-year-old. Smith handed the following season.

Seahawks administration actually deserves a luxurious dinner and particular person pay raises as a reward for a way this contract was negotiated. Almost half shall be paid out after the primary yr, and the completion of a full season does not seem to ensure the total $52 million.

Whereas the Seahawks had been in a position to get Smith to just accept a contract provide that labored to his credit score, he not less than modified Smith’s wealth endlessly. possibly they half methods subsequent season, but when Smith performs effectively once more, there could possibly be one other beginning quarterback wage within the league. close to future.