'Thank You Lord!' Seahawks QB Geno Smith Gets Fully-Guaranteed Money
The Seattle Seahawks won't have to face any questions at quarterback headed into the first year with head coach Mike Macdonald next season.
Per reports Thursday from ESPN's Adam Schefter, Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith was informed that he will remain on the roster Friday, which will activate a fully-guaranteed roster bonus of $12.7 million. Despite the presence of some rumors of a potential breakup between the two parties, Smith is here to stay for another season.
"Seahawks QB Geno Smith, who has $12.7 million in his contract that becomes fully-guaranteed on Friday, was informed today that he will remain on the roster through this week, allowing that money to trigger, sources tell ESPN," Schefter tweeted. "The $12.7 million now converts from injury guaranteed to fully-guaranteed, assuring that Smith will collect the money."
Schefter followed this up by revealing the reason Seattle made this decision:
"The Seahawks believed that, in today’s market, with salaries soaring for starting quarterbacks, the right decision was to pay the money, per sources," Schefter tweeted. "Now Geno Smith will represent a value to them - or any other team that decides to reach out to see if it can acquire Smith via trade. But Seattle now has locked in Smith, and Smith has locked in his $12.7 million."
Smith took to social media around the time the news broke, writing how thankful he is.
"Thank you Lord. I thank the Lord everyday btw," Smith wrote in a pair of tweets.
While it felt unlikely, the Seahawks could have cut Smith and would not be forced to pay him the contract bonus, potentially electing to go a different direction at quarterback.
But while the Seahawks missed the playoffs this past season, it was hardly due to a lack of production from their starting quarterback. Smith finished the 2023 season having gone 323 of 499 passing for 3,624 yards, 20 touchdowns and nine picks.
