It’s been a position Seattle has been stuck in for several years, missing the past two postseasons with winning records and sneaking into the playoffs three seasons ago at 9-8.
And it could very well be worse.
On Friday, reports surfaced that the Seahawks will trade starting quarterback Geno Smith to the Raiders for a third-round draft pick, which was confirmed by Seattle Times reporter Bob Condotta. Hey, there have been third-round picks that have changed franchises, but the odds of grabbing a true impact player that low are slim.
So the big question is: Are the Seahawks punting on the 2025 season? Or are they targeting another quarterback that they think can be an upgrade over Smith? (...)
It’s hard to find good quarterbacks in this league, and make no mistake — Smith was a good one. His iffy decision-making kept him shy of being a great one, but the man who passed for 4,320 yards (fourth in the NFL) last season while completing 70.4 percent of his passes (fifth) was more than productive behind center. Throw in that he had four game-winning drives and four fourth-quarter comebacks, all while playing behind one of the shoddiest lines in the league, and you have to wonder if they can find someone better anytime soon.
The Seahawks sit 18th in the draft order, staring at a draft class that isn’t particularly deep at QB. Might Shedeur Sanders be sporting green and blue?
If I had to pick one scenario, I would say the Seahawks go hard after Darnold in what just became an extremely intriguing offseason. They might even be thankful he played so poorly in his last two games so as to bring down his price. And if they don’t get him, my guess is Schneider is content with having a down year so that they can improve through the draft. That said, it’s fair to question the Seahawks’ draft acumen at this point.
Remember, they got back-to-back first- and second-round picks from the Broncos when they traded Russell Wilson. Yet they weren’t able to turn themselves into a contender despite having a surprisingly capable quarterback in Smith. If you’re a nervous 12 right now, it’s justified. It’s possible this team will struggle for a while.
As for Smith himself, he’ll always be welcomed in Seattle. He became an instant fan favorite after his 2022 debut against Denver, which started with “Ge-no!” chants and ended with his famous “they wrote me off, I ain’t write back, though” quote. And his incessant grace endeared him to the fan base even more. He might not have had the hardware, but he had the heart. That matters around here.
What matters more, however, are those W’s. And the best way to get them in the NFL is by having a productive quarterback. The Seahawks don’t have that right now, and might be without their most imposing receiver soon, too.
by Matt Calkins, Seattle Times | Read more:
Image: Jennifer Buchanan
[ed. Well, crap. This really sucks. First Russell, then Bobby Wagner, Pete Caroll, Tyler Lockett, DK Metcalf, and now Geno. Some of the greatest, most endearing/loyal players/coaches in franchise history, all with some productive years left in their careers. Forget what the fans want. The NFL is as cutthroat and cold-hearted as any business in the world, focused solely on two bottom-line metrics: wins and money (as if we didn't already know this, but keep getting shocked anyway). So, they've finally depleted all my good will and interest. I don't root for corporations. See also: Seahawks trading quarterback Geno Smith to Raiders, source confirms (ST).]
