Former two-time Pro Bowl quarterback Geno Smith may be a cut candidate this upcoming offseason despite winning the regular season finale against the Los Angeles Rams. According to one source, many believe the Seattle Seahawks may have to make a tough decision in releasing the veteran to build a new regime. The Seahawks were close to the postseason but had four NFC teams, including the Washington Commanders holding an 11-win threshold made them miss it despite winning 10 games. After firing offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb, it might be imminent for rookie head coach Mike Macdonald to head into a new direction for the future of this offense.
Originally selected in the second round of the NFL Draft, Smith made his debut with the New York Jets in 2013 before injuries hampered his last two seasons with them. The veteran spent time as a journeyman swirling around the league with the New York Giants and Los Angeles Chargers before making a career resurgence as the Seahawks’ starting quarterback, paving the way to win the NFL Comeback Player of the Year. Smith earned his first Pro Bowl nod, having his first winning season in his career and leading the league in completion percentage.
However, since moving on from former head coach Pete Carroll last offseason, it might be time for the Seahawks to part ways with more veterans. This will likely include Smith who will enter the final year of his contract where the team must decide if to cut his guaranteed $16 million in half to save money. Whatever the case may be, it might be time for Seattle to move in a different direction but two teams could bring out the best in Smith for one more run.
Former Jet Geno Smith May Be Cut Candidate After Missing Postseason – Panthers, Saints Next Possible Teams?
Support for Bryce Young
The Carolina Panthers will head to another offseason to rebuild a new offense for Bryce Young after two disastrous for the young quarterback so far in his career. The team will need to do a complete sweep to make Young comfortable in the pocket in 2025 if they want a legitimate shot at postseason contention. After trading Diontae Johnson and Jonathan Mingo, head coach Dave Canales should consider dipping his hand into free agency in March to grab a few one-year veterans to boost the depth of this offense. However, the hope will lay on Young where Canales cannot afford to give up on him after benching him going 0-2 in favor of Andy Dalton.
If the Panthers don’t plan to draft a new quarterback, they may sign a veteran signal-caller if they see Young in their plans. It’s easy to argue Geno Smith is no longer a starter in the league anymore given his age but he’s easily the best backup on any roster that needs reliable depth. If Smith is available, the Panthers should roll the dice on the veteran to boost the competition in the quarterback room.
The Missing Piece?
Since General Manager Mickey Loomis does not anticipate a rebuild, they may keep Derek Carr next season. With that, they will still have several decisions to make to save the team’s salary cap. They can’t afford to lose several stars including defensive end Cameron Jordan. While Carr will be the starter, they should bring in Geno Smith to see how he can adjust in New Orleans.
This will all depend on wide receiver Chris Olave coming back but Smith has been prone to bring out the best in wideouts. Rookie Spencer Rattler isn’t ready for full-time duties which means Smith could be the next man up if Carr doesn’t improve.
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