Adam Schefter says Geno Smith not returning to Seattle Seahawks would be a 'surprise'

Coming off the best season of his NFL career with the Seattle Seahawks, Geno Smith has a decision to make. The quarterback is set to be an unrestricted free agent this offseason and the question now becomes whether he will return to Seattle.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, it seems likely he will. The NFL insider appeared on SportsCenter on Wednesday, where he revealed the Smith and the Seahawks have already been in discussions for a multi-year deal.

“Geno Smith wants to be in Seattle,” he said. “The Seahawks want him in Seattle. The two sides have been working on a long-term extension. I think it would be a surprise if it didn’t get done. I would operate under the theory that Geno Smith will be back in Seattle, giving Seattle the flexibility to do what it wants at No. 5 (in the draft), whether it wants to go for the best player available, like Todd’s (McShay) talked about, whether it wants to go for a young quarterback that it’s identified in this particular draft.

“But Geno Smith, I think, right now, figures to be a part of their future. It’s up to these two sides to figure out the numbers on the deal and iron it out. But both sides want to get it done and I think it would be a surprise if it didn’t get done.”

After spending the 2020 and 2021 seasons as a backup to Russell Wilson, Geno Smith took over as the Seahawks starter this season following Wilson’s trade to the Broncos. Despite low expectations entering the year, Smith surprised in a big way.

He quarterbacked Seattle to a 9-8 finish and playoff appearance, where it lost in the Wild Card to the 49ers. Smith had his best season as a pro, setting career highs with 4,282 yards passing and 30 touchdowns. He also led the NFL in completion percentage (69.8%) and threw just 11 interceptions.

That performance earned him the NFL’s Comeback Player of the Year award as well as the first Pro Bowl appearance of his career.

Smith has had an up-and-down journey in the NFL, spending the first two years of his career as the starting quarterback for the New York Jets. He struggled in those two seasons, throwing a combined 25 touchdowns to 34 interceptions. He suffered an injury ahead of the 2015 season and played in only one game. He later moved on from the Jets, serving as a backup quarterback for the Giants, Chargers and eventually Seahawks.

It was in Seattle that Smith finally had his breakthrough, 10 seasons after being a high second-round pick in 2013. Now thanks to his play this season, he has likely earned himself what could be the biggest contract of his career.