Salk: The Seahawks’ trade of Geno Smith is a bold declaration and a wager

The Seattle Seahawks have had an incredible start to the season, sitting atop the NFC West at 5-2. They have performed better than expected, particularly defensively, and have set themselves up for their best season in a long time.

General manager John Schneider made a gamble on his club following their victory over Cleveland and their ascent to the top of the division. In exchange for a current asset, he acquired star defensive tackle Leonard Williams. His group improved. It deepened. It grew stronger in opposition to the run. If you don’t account for his whereabouts, it will compel the other team’s offensive to plot for another guy who has the potential to ruin all of your preparations. And he sent a message to the locker room that this team is good enough to deserve extra resources.

The Seahawks are now a Super Bowl contender thanks to the trade. Perhaps not in the upper echelon, where Kansas City, Buffalo, Miami, Philadelphia, and San Francisco have the advantage, but in the following group that includes Detroit, Dallas, Baltimore, and a few more teams. Seattle might even come in first or close to first on that second ranking.

Along with an improved linebacking corps and elite secondary, the Seahawks now boast a deep and talented defensive line. They have a young, healthy offensive line that is exceptionally deep, stacked groups of tight ends and running backs, and a talented wide receiver corps that can compete with anyone. Since Cliff Avril and Kam Chancellor’s careers were ended by injury in 2017, this Seattle team’s roster as a whole is superior than any that has existed. It is youthful, self-assured, balanced, athletic, and quick.

Every Seahawks fan is thrilled to hear this news. Additionally, it highlights quarterback Geno Smith exclusively.

The 2023 season has not started off well for Geno. He hasn’t been nearly as successful or efficient as we saw him last year, despite the fact that the club has won. The offense hasn’t run as smoothly as we had intended, and turnovers are up and potential turnovers are even greater. Given the team’s improved defensive line and overall roster, it is possible to argue that the quarterback position is one of the weakest on the squad and may be the one holding them back from elite success.

To Geno’s credit, his offensive line has been in continual flux, necessitating the use of extra blockers and, consequently, fewer receivers in the pattern, as well as a larger responsibility for him in the game’s protection phase. In my opinion, his ability to lead a pair of late game-winning drives is the best indicator of a good position play.

However, it makes sense that most onlookers have desired more. Geno is no longer a worthwhile read and excellent value. More than just the unanticipated reclamation project playing with nothing to lose, he must be. The Seahawks will need to determine if he is worth it after each of the next two seasons, as he is making a legitimate amount of money.

The Seahawks made their first indication that they think Williams is just that when they traded for the second-round pick of the following year. I don’t think Schneider and head coach Pete Carroll would have made this move if they didn’t think they could win a Super Bowl with their current quarterback.

To begin with, would you give a team that you believed had a fatal fault at its most critical position additional resources? Most likely not. You wouldn’t pour more resources at an unfixable problem; instead, you might strive to decrease his significance to the finished product or try to strengthen the roster surrounding him.

Second, would you trade your second-best pick if you were determined to select a quarterback high in the forthcoming draft (a position where the talent is exceptionally strong and deep)? Indeed, I wouldn’t.

(Note: This is not to mean that the Seahawks can’t draft a quarterback in the first round the following year. They could yet wait until the third round to make another selection if they genuinely think it is the lone component missing. They could always offer their 2025 first-round pick if they needed to advance in the round. They might, but I’d be surprised if they did.)

To further emphasize that argument, the Seahawks could have acquired elite defensive players for less money than they did in order to acquire Williams. Two players who could have aided Seattle were acquired by the Niners for a third-round pick in Chase Young and by the Bears for Montez Sweat. They were comfortable enough to pass up the better selection pick for Williams, as evidenced by the fact that they traded more for him.

The Seahawks’ decision to trade Williams is a clear indication of their confidence in their 2023 roster. It provides the players and coaches with the motivation to compete for something exceptional while also rewarding them for a strong start. It’s also a positive indication for Geno Smith. He has more of a chance to sink or swim since he has access to everything he needs to be successful. I’m eager to hear his response.