John Schneider: Seahawks Would ‘Love’ to Re-Sign Geno Smith, Drew Lock

Practically a yr after buying and selling Russell Wilson to the Broncos for a smorgasbord of draft picks, the Seahawks discovered sudden success with a resurgent Geno Smith incomes his first profession Professional Bowl and guiding the crew to the postseason.

With the offseason now in full swing, basic supervisor John Schneider indicated on an interview with Ian Furness of KJR 93.3 Seattle on Wednesday that Seattle hopes to convey Smith and backup Drew Lock again into the fold in 2023. Each gamers are scheduled to grow to be unrestricted free brokers in March initially of the brand new league yr.

“Sure, we might like to. That might be a great scenario,” Schneider stated of the potential for re-signing Smith and Lock.

Following a wild card spherical loss to the 49ers, Schneider stated that he had a “nice speak” with Smith throughout his exit interview and each side made it clear that they’ve mutual curiosity in him staying within the Pacific Northwest.

However whereas negotiations with the veteran sign caller ought to ramp up quickly, Schneider and the entrance workplace have positioned an emphasis on analyzing the roster and determining an offseason recreation plan per regular on the finish of a season. As soon as that course of has been accomplished, consideration will shift in the direction of taking good care of enterprise and hopefully placing an settlement on a brand new contract with Smith.

“By way of getting it accomplished, it’s a course of. Hope to get began right here fairly fast,” Schneider acknowledged. “Had slightly time right here to guage our crew and get settled and all of the exit interviews and the whole lot that goes into what occurs once you get accomplished taking part in. We’ll get to it as quickly as we are able to and attempt to do what’s greatest for Geno and attempt to do what’s greatest for the group.”

Beating out Lock, who arrived as a part of the Wilson commerce final March, for the beginning job throughout the Seahawks offseason program and coaching camp, Smith loved the best yr of his NFL profession after spending seven seasons as a backup with three completely different organizations.

Thriving in coordinator Shane Waldron’s offense, Smith set a brand new franchise report with 4,282 passing yards, completed fourth within the NFL with 30 landing passes, and led the league with a 69.8 p.c completion price. He was particularly proficient throwing the deep ball, main all quarterbacks with 14 landing passes of at the very least 20 yards via the air and posting a passer ranking north of 120.0 on such makes an attempt.

Whereas Seattle hardly ever referred to as designed runs for him, Smith additionally confirmed off his ignored abilities as a runner, dashing for 366 yards and greater than 5 yards per keep on the season. On quite a few events, his skill to create as a scrambler prolonged drives for the ninth-ranked scoring offense.

Trying to preserve Smith after handing over such a powerful season will not be an inexpensive matter for the Seahawks. Based mostly off of market value for prime tier beginning quarterbacks, he might command as a lot as $35 million per yr after incomes a base wage of $3.5 million in 2022. If unable to strike a long-term deal, the crew might think about using the non-exclusive franchise tag, which is estimated to be value a totally assured $32.4 million subsequent season.

Within the occasion Smith’s price ticket exceeds the crew’s willingness to pay, Seattle has different choices to think about at quarterback, together with re-signing Lock, who the group stays excessive on regardless of not taking part in any common season snaps final season. They might additionally doubtlessly use the No. 5 general decide acquired within the Wilson commerce to draft a future franchise quarterback equivalent to Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud.

However whereas Schneider has beforehand indicated there can be a restrict to how excessive Seattle might go to retain Smith resulting from finances constraints and different roster wants, he believes the veteran has earned the chance to money in primarily based on his stellar efficiency and after seeing how he excelled below the teaching of Pete Carroll and his employees, he is hopeful the 2 sides will work out a deal within the close to future.

“Tremendous pleased with the way in which he competed and the whole lot he did, particularly as soon as he was named the starter. Coach Carroll, in all probability one of many greatest strengths he has is instilling confidence in folks. I believed it was simply wonderful the way in which he labored with Geno and the way in which Geno took his confidence and his management abilities to a different degree. Then, the efficiency on the sector speaks for itself.”

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