Geno explains why he wanted out

[D-train]

By Bob Condotta
Seattle Times staff reporter
When the details of Geno Smith’s contract with the Raiders were revealed last week, it raised a question — why couldn’t he have agreed to the same deal in Seattle?

As reported by multiple sources, Smith signed a two-year extension with the Raiders for the 2026 and 2027 seasons featuring a base value of $75 million with incentives that could take it to $85.5 million. Or, an average of $37.5 million in base value and over $42 million if he hits incentives.

That’s on top of the $31 million in salary he is due in 2025 on the final season of the deal he signed with the Seahawks in 2023.

That’s similar from what a source told The Times — that the Seahawks offered Smith a two-year extension that could have been worth up to $40-45 million per year.

Seahawks general manager John Schneider said the team never got a response from Smith’s side, a breakdown in talks that led them to trading Smith on March 7 to Las Vegas for a 2025 third-round pick.

In his first comments since the deal, Smith was quoted in a story published Monday morning on SI.com as saying that his desire to leave to Seattle was about more than money.

In the story, Smith indicates a desire to reunite with his former coach Pete Carroll and feeling as if he wasn’t part of the Seahawks’ future led to the trade.

Smith cited the lure of playing with Raiders offensive coordinator Chip Kelly, who was the OC last year at Ohio State where Smith’s cousin, Jeremiah Smith, is a star receiver, and that Tom Brady is part of Vegas’ ownership group.

Smith says he got the idea during a meeting with Schneider last summer that the team wanted to “lean into the young core” it has built the past few seasons, especially in light of firing Carroll following the 2023 season and hiring Mike Macdonald as his replacement.

Geno Smith agrees to 2-yr/$85.5M extension with Raiders 'The Insiders'

That left Smith to wonder if the team considered him as part of the future.

“Just based on that conversation, I kind of knew the direction the team was going,” Smith said, in an interview SI.com said was Friday morning.

Smith confirmed last season that he approached the team last summer about an extension, which he also hoped would assure a commitment to him as the team’s long-term starter.

The Seahawks told Smith they would not negotiate then, sticking to their precedent of not giving extensions to players with more than a year remaining on their contracts.

Smith said he went into the 2024 season with questions about his future.

“Obviously, they have young guys in the building that they want to step up and be leaders, and they got a new head coach last year,” Smith said. “And Mike was good for us, and I really enjoyed being with him for that season. But again, man, when you’re talking about business, and you’re talking about a quarterback who wants not only to get paid — every player wants to get paid — but to be respected, that’s the most important thing. It’s the respect factor.
“And I just felt like there was a disconnect there.”

The Seahawks appeared to commit to Smith publicly after the 2025 season with Schneider and Macdonald stating several times they anticipated he would be their starter.

Schneider and Smith’s representatives met at the combine and the Seahawks gave an offer to Smith the first week of March.

Smith’s side never gave a counter offer. As Schneider said later “it became apparent that we weren’t going to be able to get to a deal done. Yeah, it wasn’t a very long negotiation.”

The SI.com story calls the Seahawks’ proposal “a solid contract offer” — it would have represented a significant raise from the $25 million average of his current deal.

The story notes it was “well shy” of what Smith wanted on a per-year basis while not saying what Smith wanted. Smith noted the proposal gave the Seahawks “escape hatches” to get out of the deal.

The story says a key for Smith is that the Raiders fully guaranteed Smith’s $18.5 million for the 2026 season, in his view showing that they don’t view him as a one-year stop gap.

That amount is part of a $58.5 million fully guaranteed at signing, which includes his 2025 salary.

How much the Seahawks offered Smith in full guarantees has not been reported, though ESPN reported he would have gotten $40 million in year one. That’s the same as Smith is guaranteed to get in 2025 from the Raiders.

As noted by Pro Football Talk, Smith’s Raiders’ deal is written in a manner that Las Vegas could get out of it after one year.


Wrote PFT: “Since he presumably wouldn’t play in 2026 for total compensation of $18.5 million, the Raiders could ultimately owe him nothing beyond the $40 million he’ll make in 2025.”

Smith’s contract may be more realistically viewed as a two-year deal with the Raiders as it includes a non-guaranteed $39.5 million in 2027, indicating the two sides will have to work out a new deal following the 2026 season — or move on from each other.

That sounds like something Smith and the Seahawks could have worked out.

Smith was likely more amenable to accept that deal with the Raiders to play again with Carroll. That became an option when Carroll was hired by the Raiders on Jan. 24.

The Raiders initially pursued Matthew Stafford before he agreed on a reworked deal with the Rams in late February.

That Smith knew at that point the Raiders could be highly motivated to get him surely played into how his side played hardball with the Seahawks’ offer.

The Seahawks knew at that point that signing Sam Darnold as a free agent to replace Smith was a realistic option. They signed Darnold to a three-year contract

Smith confirmed what Carroll said at last week’s league meetings that the two stayed in contact throughout the 2024 season when Carroll was still holding an advisory role with the Seahawks.

“I would call him whenever I got frustrated,” Smith said. “He talked me through things, and he still coached me. And I think that’s what makes him such a special man, is that he was coaching me even when he wasn’t my head coach. A lot of the things that he was telling me, a lot of conversations we had really kept me steady throughout the season, and kept my head on straight.”

Smith referenced the way the 2024 season unfolded as another reason he had reason to consider if he was still part of the Seahawks’ long-term future.

Smith threw 15 interceptions after throwing a combined 20 his first two years as the starter, working with new coordinator Ryan Grubb. Grubb was fired the day after the season and replaced by Klint Kubiak, meaning Smith would be learning another new offense in 2025.

“It was very frustrating last year, because as a team, we set goals for ourselves, and we didn’t achieve those goals,” he said. “And being a part of the team, being a quarterback, I take that right on my shoulders. And I feel like that’s my responsibility to make sure that stuff happens. And we weren’t able to reach our goals, weren’t able to get to the playoffs.

“… And then, obviously, not having real security there, not feeling like you’re really a part of the future plans. There’s a lot to think about.”

Monday, Smith finally held an introductory news conference in Las Vegas.

Asked about how things ended in Seattle, Smith said: “It was just business and that’s the way things work in the NFL. There are no hard feelings with anyone there. I have a lot of love for everybody there really.”

Report: Seahawks hosting Griffin
The Seahawks’ attempts to flesh out the depth at cornerback have turned to a familiar name — Shaquill Griffin, a third-round pick in 2017 who played four seasons with the Seahawks. Fox Sports reported Monday morning that Griffin was scheduled to visit.

Griffin, who turns 30 on July 20, played as a reserve and situational cornerback with the Vikings last season, appearing in all 17 games with three starts and playing 572 snaps. He had two interceptions, including one that helped seal a win against Arizona, and six pass defenses.

[Seattle or Bust]

I've never seen a fan base more obsessed with such a mediocre player.

4 billion articles and X posts a day about a QB who struggled to pull his head head out of his ass half the time.

[Sibelius Hindemith]

Why the Geno hate? It's just an off-season article when nothing else is going on. Would you rather that they had re-signed Russell at $55 mil x5 years.

[douche]

It was for the best. He wasn't the future and seemed incapable of elevating his game. I think SEA is better off moving forward without him.

[Michael K.]

Why the Geno hate? It's just an off-season article when nothing else is going on. Would you rather that they had re-signed Russell at $55 mil x5 years.

While there is no reason to "hate", he's not wrong. The infatuation with a QB that was heavily turnover prone, made one playoff appearance in three years and got torched in that playoff game and was 1 and 3 as the starter the year before he took over? It's odd. But it's a Seattle thing. This fan base as a hole gets a guy and falls in love. Remember Vin "The Championship Maker" Baker? That dude was fat and lazy, and there were fans that would defend him until the end. Richie Sexton could hit .088 and strike out 200 times, and if he got hot in August, when the team was out of the race? There were fans that would defend him. The Adrian Beltre love blows me away. He was an average to below average hitter while here, and an MVP candidate everywhere else...but the fans here act like the sun rises and sets on his ass. The list goes on and on. I'm sure many fan bases fall illogically in love with their own, but does anyone do it to a greater extend that Seattle fans?

[maoling]

Geno should be showing nothing but gratitude for an organization that resurrected his failing career. And DK left with the same makeup that he came in with -- supreme talent, a lazy work ethic, poor judgment and a brain the size of a pea. I'm glad they are both gone. But I'll miss Tyler Lockett. I hope he is back as a receiver's coach one day or in some capacity with the Hawks. He is Ring of Honor to me.

[Donn Beach]

Lockett is going to be busy selling real estate

[D-train]

I accidentally deleted auroraave's post. Here is is:

When Cringeruss got injured (no, not his ego) Geno came in and the offense immediately caught fire. Suddenly, everyone not named Russell Wilson understood Cringeruss's blatant limitations, in dire contrast to his cringy claim to be unlimited.

Seattle finally booted the Great Cringe. In his first game as the Seattle starter, Geno beat the Great Cringe - thus cementing his legacy in Seattle forever. After that game, he went on to set the franchise record for passing yards - in his first season as the starter - thus kicking The Great Cringe even further into the rear view mirror. Another notch on his legend status, further mending the open would left by TGC.

people can bitch and moan all day long - they are going to no matter what - but Geno's first season success was the absolute salve on the wound caused by the exit of the Great Cringe. He proved Wilson was more than just expendable, he exposed the Great Cringe - to the entire league - for the narcissistic me-first fuck head he was when he left.

I don't particularly care about the last two seasons, what he did that first year was much much much much needed. I love the guy just for that. His limitations don't bother me - he's human. I hope he does well in LV. Anyone that has any hate towards Geno (really, towards anyone), should really take a long hard look in the mirror. Dude salvaged the franchise and got Seattle out from the (tiny) shadow of the Great Cringe - and exposed him to the entire league. Fuck yeah!

Now it's Darnold's turn. God speed!

[DavidGee24]

I accidentally deleted auroraave's post. Here is is:

When Cringeruss got injured (no, not his ego) Geno came in and the offense immediately caught fire. Suddenly, everyone not named Russell Wilson understood Cringeruss's blatant limitations, in dire contrast to his cringy claim to be unlimited.

Seattle finally booted the Great Cringe. In his first game as the Seattle starter, Geno beat the Great Cringe - thus cementing his legacy in Seattle forever. After that game, he went on to set the franchise record for passing yards - in his first season as the starter - thus kicking The Great Cringe even further into the rear view mirror. Another notch on his legend status, further mending the open would left by TGC.

people can bitch and moan all day long - they are going to no matter what - but Geno's first season success was the absolute salve on the wound caused by the exit of the Great Cringe. He proved Wilson was more than just expendable, he exposed the Great Cringe - to the entire league - for the narcissistic me-first fuck head he was when he left.

I don't particularly care about the last two seasons, what he did that first year was much much much much needed. I love the guy just for that. His limitations don't bother me - he's human. I hope he does well in LV. Anyone that has any hate towards Geno (really, towards anyone), should really take a long hard look in the mirror. Dude salvaged the franchise and got Seattle out from the (tiny) shadow of the Great Cringe - and exposed him to the entire league. Fuck yeah!

Now it's Darnold's turn. God speed!

Agree, Geno did a decent job in Seattle and probably deserves a top-five Seahawk QB ranking (with Wilson, Hasselbeck, Krieg, and Moon...no, not Zorn), but he peaked two years ago and the Hawks only need to look across the street to see what happens when you hang onto or acquire players that are past their prime.

[DavidGee24]

Why the Geno hate? It's just an off-season article when nothing else is going on. Would you rather that they had re-signed Russell at $55 mil x5 years.

While there is no reason to "hate", he's not wrong. The infatuation with a QB that was heavily turnover prone, made one playoff appearance in three years and got torched in that playoff game and was 1 and 3 as the starter the year before he took over? It's odd. But it's a Seattle thing. This fan base as a hole gets a guy and falls in love. Remember Vin "The Championship Maker" Baker? That dude was fat and lazy, and there were fans that would defend him until the end. Richie Sexton could hit .088 and strike out 200 times, and if he got hot in August, when the team was out of the race? There were fans that would defend him. The Adrian Beltre love blows me away. He was an average to below average hitter while here, and an MVP candidate everywhere else...but the fans here act like the sun rises and sets on his ass. The list goes on and on. I'm sure many fan bases fall illogically in love with their own, but does anyone do it to a greater extend that Seattle fans?

It would be neat to make up a list of active Seattle athletes who the fanbase loves even though they suck. At this time I'd have J.P. Crawford at the top of the list.