Friday represents a significant deadline for Geno Smith and the Seattle Seahawks.
Smith’s $12.7 million base salary for 2024 becomes fully guaranteed if he’s still on the roster past Friday. The quarterback is currently slated to make $22.5 million next year when adding a $9.6 million roster bonus and a $200,000 workout bonus.
If the Seahawks want to start over under center behind new head coach Mike Macdonald, they could cut Smith one year into his three-year, $75 million deal.
However, that doesn’t necessarily mean Smith will remain with the Seahawks as long as they keep him through the week.
The Seahawks could also shop Smith. While trades can’t be finalized until March 13, any team acquiring the 33-year-old would be responsible for his base salary and bonuses if a deal is completed by March 18.
They could also still release him before March 18 and shed at least some of that guaranteed money since his deal reportedly includes offsets.
Given the position’s market, Smith’s contract is arguably more of a bargain than a liability.
Smith’s $22.5 million salary would rank 18th among quarterbacks in 2024, and the signed starters behind him are still on rookie contracts. Jimmy Garoppolo landed a three-year, $72.75 million deal last offseason, so Kirk Cousins and Baker Mayfield will likely paydays beyond Smith’s current contract.
While he didn’t fully match 2022’s Comeback Player of the Year campaign, Smith hardly faded into obscurity. He posted a 92.1 quarterback rating with 3,624 passing yards, 20 touchdowns, and nine interceptions in nine games.
Following an unexpected playoff trip without Russell Wilson in 2022, Seattle narrowly missed the 2023 postseason at 9-8. Every loss came against teams that made the playoffs, aside from a 17-13 road shortcoming to Joe Burrow’s Cincinnati Bengals.