Geno Smith predicted to be benched by Seattle Seahawks before end of 2025 NFL season

It’s difficult to classify exactly what kind of quarterback Geno Smith is to the Seattle Seahawks. Usually when a player is a team’s starter for three full seasons (which he’s approaching) it’s incorrect to call them anything but a franchise QB1. However, Smith is in a unique situation for several reasons. The most-important one is that he just turned 34 years old, and the list of NFL quarterbacks who have played their best football after 34 has about two names on it.

Tom Brady is now retired (probably) and Aaron Rodgers is either playing hurt or very near the end of his run in this league – and Smith’s game right now doesn’t approach how either one of those GOATs were performing in their mid-30s. So, is Smith a true franchise quarterback, or is he just the world’s longest bridge QB?

We’ll find out next year, when Smith’s three-year contract extension runs out. At least one analyst at TWSN believes the team will bench Smith before the end of 2025, though.

TWSN on Seahawks benching Geno Smith”Benching Smith next season to allow the younger talent to develop could be huge, as it’s clear that Geno’s deficiencies could hold them back. All around, Seattle’s young core of Devon Wotherspoon, Leonard Williams, DK Metcalf, and company need a future quarterback who doesn’t have just one more year remaining. I believe Geno Smith should be the bridge quarterback for either a mid-round QB like a Quinn Ewers this year, or a young quarterback after next season.”

We don’t see this scenario happening at the moment, but the 2025 season might as well be the very distant future for this franchise. Smith deserves to finish out the year and see how far he can take this team with head coach Mike Macdonald’s new and improved defense holding their opponents to a reasonable score.

While it would come as a surprise if they benched Smith while he’s still around, if they were to pick a quarterback in next year’s draft (or acquire another young QB through different means) then the calculus could change quickly. Seattle appears to have a window opening in the NFC West with the San Francisco 49ers seemingly finally falling off from their five-year run of being the best team in the conference. If they can’t break through with Smith there will be cause to try again with somebody else in the backfield.

Geno Smith’s biggest issueDuring this run as Seattle’s starter Smith has proven to be one of the league’s most accurate, aggressive and clutch quarterbacks. He leads the NFL in game-winning drives over the last three years and is currently only a handful of yards behind MVP favorite Lamar Jackson for the passing yards crown despite having to deal with atrocious pass protection all season.

The problem is of course turnovers, which have been an issue for Smith on and off throughout his career. Early on in his first two seasons with the New York Jets they were a deal-breaker, as Smith threw 36 interceptions and just 28 touchdown passes. These days it’s not quite as bad as that, but his TD/INT ratio this season is still a poor 12/12.

The cause of Smith’s pick problems is that he occasionally tries to do too much. When a simple checkdown or a scramble for a first down is available, he pushes too hard down field and throws the ball into tight windows too often. It was a problem for stretches during the 2022 and 2023 seasons for Smith as well, but he was able to break out of it in both cases in those years – whereas Smith has been unable to do so in 2024.

If Smith continues to struggle with INTs down the stretch, the Seahawks will have to think long and hard about potentially finding another QB1.

More Seahawks storiesSeahawks urged to sign $56 million 4-time Pro Bowler in free agency

DK Metcalf on Seahawks injury report again this week with new issue

Seahawks put worst OL on IR, designate 2 players to return to practice