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Seahawks Decision to Re-Sign Geno Smith Could Boost Trade Interest in No. 5 Draft Pick

Holding a top-five selection for the first time in the Pete Carroll/John Schneider era, could bringing back Geno Smith actually give the Seattle Seahawks extra leverage with potential trade down partners in April?

Less than 48 hours after the news broke about the Seattle Seahawks inking Pro Bowl quarterback Geno Smith to a new three-year contract, the deal looks to be a mutually-beneficial win-win for the player and franchise.

Following a breakout campaign where he broke multiple team records, including posting the highest completion percentage and throwing for the most yardage in a single season, Smith could earn up to $105 million through 2025. But while he could make top-10 quarterback money as a result, Seattle gave itself some protection in the event he can't replicate his 2022 production by structuring the contract with a $25 million per year base salary average, only $40 million in guarantees, and $30 million in incentives.

By not breaking the bank and handing Smith more guaranteed money and/or a higher base salary, the Seahawks have granted themselves an immense amount of flexibility at the quarterback position. If the veteran keeps slinging the pigskin at a high level and meets all or most of his incentives, the team should be in the mix to compete for Super Bowls. If he regresses, the contract allows for them to move on seamlessly a year or two into the deal.

Either way, as reiterated by coach Pete Carroll on Tuesday, Seattle will stay "totally connected" with this year's incoming quarterback class. Holding the No. 5 overall pick courtesy of the Russell Wilson trade with Denver last March, picking Smith's successor remains on the table thanks to an impressive crop of prospects featuring a former Heisman Trophy winner in Bryce Young, a precision passer in Ohio State's C.J. Stroud, and an athletic marvel in Florida's Anthony Richardson.

"That opportunity is absolutely there. We can do whatever we need to do," Carroll told Mike Salk and Brock Huard on Seattle Sports 710. "It's really exciting and coaches are working at it, the scouts are working at it to try to position this thing. When you're at [pick] five, this is different than we're used to seeing. This is really fun... We're alive and all guns are blazing here."

While other teams around the league may view Carroll's comments as little more than a smokescreen, they shouldn't. The Seahawks appear to have genuine interest in multiple quarterbacks from this class, including Richardson, who reportedly had an impressive meeting with Carroll and other staff members at the NFL combine last week.

With how Smith's contract has been expertly crafted, Seattle has positioned itself to take a quarterback early without anyone batting an eye. In the case of a player like Richardson who may not be ready to see the field right away, it's the perfect scenario to draft, develop, and groom behind a veteran with the possibility of taking over in a year or two. If Smith keeps playing well or even improves upon his 2022 season, that player could eventually be traded down the road for high picks.

At the same time, as Carroll also discussed on Tuesday, the Seahawks will want to maximize their window with Smith under center by building the roster around him. With somewhat limited salary cap space, the best chance to do that will come in the draft in April with four picks in the first 52 selections, including the aforementioned top-five pick that will be the highest the organization has had since 2009.

Considering the buzz Young, Stroud, Richardson, and Kentucky's Will Levis continue to generate heading towards the draft, it's possible three or even four quarterbacks could go before Seattle is even on the clock, which would guarantee Carroll and general manager John Schneider the opportunity to pick a marquee defensive player such as Alabama pass rusher Will Anderson, Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter, or Texas Tech defensive end Tyree Wilson.

The architect of a whopping 33 draft weekend trades in his 13 years at the helm, Schneider will also be watching the quarterback class attentively with thoughts on fielding offers for No. 5 overall. If one of the top signal callers remains available once the Seahawks are on the clock, re-signing Smith has put him in an advantageous position where he can auction the pick to the highest bidder if he wishes.

Likely to generate a Grinch-esque smile from Schneider simply thinking about the possibility, several quarterback-needy teams such as the Raiders, Falcons, and Panthers sit behind them in the top 10 who could be ready to engage in a bidding war to slide up for their franchise guy. This could yield multiple day two selections or even a future first round pick, which would be a boon to the Seahawks with reigning Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams and several other standout college quarterbacks expected to be in the draft in 2024.

Lacking the resources to make many big splashes in free agency even if he wanted to, trading down to recoup additional picks in a deep draft would give Schneider even more ammunition to infuse the roster with young talent under affordable club control for four or five years. Seattle also would still hold a top 10 pick, allowing the opportunity to potentially still land a blue chip prospect if quarterbacks fly off the board out the gate.

With the first big domino falling with Smith re-signing on a team-friendly deal, it's just another wrinkle to consider as the Seahawks prepare for a pivotal offseason that could vault the franchise into contention status for the next several seasons if executed properly.


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