Seahawks HC Mike Macdonald Endorses New Geno Smith Contract

With the Seahawks’ season over, attention has turned to the team’s most important looming financial decisions. At the top of that list, of course, is a call on how to handle quarterback Geno Smith‘s future.

Smith is under contract for 2025, but he is slated to carry a cap hit of $44.5MM. A new deal will need to be worked out to avoid carrying such a cumbersome figure, and after attempting to kickstart extension talks this past summer Smith’s camp has made it clear he wants a fresh round of commitments from the team. Seattle has a window of opportunity in this situation, with none of his 2025 base salary guaranteed and his roster bonus not due until March 20.

That bonus was set to check in at $10MM, but Smith’s performance in Week 18 changed the situation. The 34-year-old hit three separate contract escalators, bringing the value of his bonus to $16MM (as detailed by ESPN’s Brady Henderson). By the time the new league year begins, though, more clarity will have emerged with respect to whether or not team and player will be willing to continue their relationship. The Seahawks are expected to scan the quarterback market this offseason, something which could provide them with a Smith replacement. Head coach Mike Macdonald would be on board with making a new commitment in the veteran, however.

“I want Geno to be here,” Macdonald said (via Henderson). “I think he’s a heck of a player… I feel like Geno’s the best for the team right now. I’ll be involved with [contract talks]. Ultimately it’s not my decision. It’s a Seahawks decision, but Geno knows how we feels about him and we love him as our starting quarterback, for sure.”

Winning out a competition with Drew Lock to serve as Russell Wilson‘s successor in 2022, Smith exceeded expectations en route to the Comeback Player of the Year award during his first campaign as Seattle’s starter. He followed that up with a second straight Pro Bowl season, but with the Seahawks falling short of the postseason and moving on from Pete Carroll, questions loomed about Smith’s status moving forward. As more of his 2024 compensation became locked in, it became clear the former second-rounder would again handle QB1 duties.

Smith recorded 4,320 passing yards and a 70.4% completion percentage this season; both of those figures represent franchise records he had already set in 2022. Given his age and the fact Seattle again failed to qualify for the playoffs, however, it would be feasible for a reset under center (or at least the addition of a young passer capable of taking over from Smith down the road) to be a top organizational goal In any event, the team’s search for a new offensive coordinator represents a key element in this situation. The Seahawks own the No. 18 selection in April’s draft.

Seattle is among the teams currently slated to be over the cap for the 2025 league year, meaning a number of financial moves will be required over the coming weeks. One which lowers Smith’s cap hit will no doubt be among them, but how the team goes about doing that will make for an interesting storyline.