The New England Patriots are in desperate need of a quarterback upgrade, and an opportunity could arise depending on how the Seahawks use Geno Smith.
Seattle owes the 33-year-old $12.7 million in base salary next season, a fraction of the $22.5 million he will make in 2024. If Smith is still on the roster, $12.7 million becomes fully guaranteed starting Friday, according to ESPN’s Brady Henderson.Pete Carroll has been a strong advocate for Smith, but it’s unclear how general manager John Schneider and new Seahawks coach Mike McDonald plan to fill the position.
Ryan Grubb is the team’s new offensive coordinator, and Henderson is the team’s new offensive coordinator, and Henderson is the team’s new offensive coordinator. It showed his relevance to the project.Seattle doesn’t necessarily have to part with Smith on Friday. He could find a trade partner willing to take on the veteran’s $12.7 million base salary, $9.6 million bonus and $200,000 bonus.
The Seahawks might not get much value in return for an 11-year contract, but it’s better than letting him go after four seasons.The quarterback free agent class isn’t the best. Even if Denver cuts Russell Wilson, it will be a competition between him and Kirk Cousins. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are expected to retain Baker Mayfield, so Smith could be a top pick if he hits the open market.
Wilson hasn’t adjusted well since being traded to the Broncos, and Cousins is dealing with an Achilles injury. Smith had a career year last season, showing his ability to pass coverage to top receivers like DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett. Smith’s production took a step back from expectations this season, ranking 14th in completion percentage and 12th in EPA and PFF grades. But he should be someone worth considering for the Patriots. what do you think?Please leave a comment.
Smith was average in PFF’s rotation-worthy games, but was tied for seventh in big throw stats this season. No matter how you look at PFF’s numbers, the bottom line is that Smith struggled to keep Seattle competitive and had the lowest success rate in Jerod Mayo’s first season as a head coach in playoff contention. The veteran signal-caller wouldn’t rule out a quarterback with the third overall pick, but if New England decides to trade a Day 2 or Day 3 pick, Smith could help preserve a short-term pick.
The franchise will continue to exist until a new successor takes over. The Patriots have a lot of issues outside of the quarterback position, so adding pieces around veterans might be a smarter move than keeping the franchise with mediocre pieces. Acquiring or trading Smith would be a better short-term option than Wilson in the past, and would be safer than trying to save Justin Fields, who is expected to receive a costly extension if traded to another team.
Smith was also a respected leader in the Seattle locker room that New England could use after Mack Jones lost confidence due to misplaced bravado. If the Patriots’ goal is simply to make the playoffs, Smith would be a good option to lead a capable offense alongside a strong defensive unit.