The Seattle Seahawks recently traded quarterback Geno Smith to the Las Vegas Raiders and signed free agent Sam Darnold to a lucrative three-year, $100.5 million contract. General manager John Schneider indicated that while the team expected Smith to stay, they wanted to make the right decision. Despite Smith's strong past performances and recent successes, the team opted for Darnold, who is seven years younger and coming off a better season. The move signifies a substantial gamble by the Seahawks in pursuit of a more potent offensive future.
As Seattle Seahawks general manager John Schneider fielded questions at the scouting combine about upcoming contract negotiations with Geno Smith's agent, his answer to one of them included an important qualifier. "We expect him to be our guy," Schneider told reporters in Indianapolis, "but we want to do what's right, too."
The Seahawks are giving Darnold $55 million in guarantees, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter, making it a significant bet on their part that he'll be better than Smith.
It's an understandable risk. Smith has one of the NFL's most talented and accurate arms, having just broken his own single-season franchise record with a 70.4% completion rate.
But Smith is 34 years old and has been up and down the last two seasons, ranking 21st in QBR in that span. He threw 15 interceptions last year, including a league-high four in the red zone.
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