Time's Up for Geno: Why Seattle Needs a New Signal-Caller

By Jason Bolton February 21, 2025 07:51 GMT+4 min read

The Seahawks find themselves at a crossroads. Geno Smith's feel-good story has run its course, and it's time for Pete Carroll and company to face the music. The numbers don't lie - Geno's 2024 campaign was a step back, and Seattle needs to look to the future.

Let's break it down. Geno's QBR tumbled from 14th in the league (60.3) in 2023 to 21st (54.0) in 2024. That's a significant drop, folks. His passer rating also took a hit, falling from 17th to somewhere in the 20s. For a team with playoff aspirations, that just won't cut it.

Sure, Geno put up some gaudy yardage numbers - 4,320 to be exact, good for 4th in the league. But don't let that fool you. A deeper dive shows a quarterback who's struggling to elevate his team when it matters most.

Take his performance against the Rams in Week 9. Yeah, he threw for 363 yards, but he also tossed 3 picks to go with his 3 touchdowns. That's the kind of feast-or-famine play that keeps coaches up at night.

Or how about that stinker against the Bills? A measly 212 yards, no touchdowns, and a pick. That's not gonna get it done against playoff-caliber competition.

Now, let's talk advanced metrics. CPOE (Completion Percentage Over Expectation) and EPA (Expected Points Added) are becoming the gold standard for evaluating QB play. While we don't have Geno's exact numbers, his middling QBR suggests he's not excelling in these crucial areas.

The eye test backs this up. Too often, Geno's making the safe play instead of pushing the ball downfield. His deep ball percentage has dipped, and he's not creating those chunk plays that can break a game open.

Look, Geno's a great story. From backup to Pro Bowler is the kind of tale Hollywood loves. But this is the NFL, and sentimentality doesn't win championships.

The Seahawks need to take a hard look at the 2025 draft class. With the way the league's going, you need a dynamic playmaker under center to compete. Geno's shown he's a capable game manager, but Seattle needs more.

There's also the financial angle to consider. Geno's due a hefty $6 million bonus if he's on the roster past the fifth day of the 2025 league year. That's a lot of cheddar for a quarterback who's trending in the wrong direction.

The NFC West isn't getting any easier. The Niners are a juggernaut, the Rams are always dangerous, and even the Cardinals are showing signs of life. Standing pat with Geno feels like a recipe for 8-9 mediocrity.

It's time for Seattle to rip off the Band-Aid. Thank Geno for his service, wish him well, and start the search for the next franchise QB. The window in the NFL closes fast, and the Seahawks can't afford to waste another season hoping Geno recaptures the magic.

The numbers don't lie, and neither does the film. Geno Smith's been a great story, but for the Seahawks to soar again, they need to find a new pilot for the offense. It's a tough call, but that's why they pay the big bucks in the front office. Time to make the move, Seattle.