Seahawks '$25 Million Secret' Revealed in New Geno Smith Contract
The Seattle Seahawks have finalized their short-term future with quarterback Geno Smith, as he and the team have reached an agreement on a new multi-year contract. ... at a more affordable number than you might think.
It has been billed as this: Smith will sign a three-year, $105 million deal with the ability to earn $52 million in the first season, as first reported by NFL insider Jordan Schultz.
Schultz is right ... except for the "devil in the details.''
Or, better said, the "angel in the details,'' because this isn't really "$35 million APY.'' That bulging number includes incentives, we now know.
Geno's actual base salary is ... $25 million APY, and in total, $75 million for the three years.
Seattle will be happy to pay the higher number if Geno continues excelling ...
In 2022, Smith earned his first-ever Pro Bowl nod and set Seattle single-season franchise records in passing yards (4,282), completions (399), completion percentage (69.8) and passing attempts (572) - all during a season where the Seahawks were supposed to be rebuilding. He was also named the NFL's Comeback Player of the Year.
Smith could've potentially been placed on the franchise tag, which would've allowed him to remain in Seattle for at least next season while making $32.4 million guaranteed. Instead, the $25 million APY leaves room to add more talent, and the three-year portion of the deal leaves open the idea of drafting a QB to intern alongside Geno.
Despite the new contract, Seattle coach Pete Carroll made it clear that all possibilities are on the table for the Seahawks in the draft. The 32-year-old Smith isn't exactly getting younger, and the Seahawks don't want to fumble what Carroll calls "a rare opportunity" at the quarterback position in the draft.
"The position we're in, we are totally connected to the quarterbacks that are coming out," Carroll said at the NFL Combine. "This is a really huge opportunity for us. It's a rare opportunity."
And the opportunity includes an affordable Geno Smith.
You can follow Zach Dimmitt on Twitter at @ZachDimmitt7
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