In light of this, a lot of supporters have quickly expressed their opinion—which is difficult to dispute—that the Seahawks’ decision to acquire Williams was a win-now move that would also help them contend in 2023. Though there are a number of inferences that may be made by looking beyond only 2023, the most significant one seems likely to center on quarterback Geno Smith, a guy about whom many fans have formed strong opinions.
Fans of the Seahawks are still divided on Geno; some believe that Shane Waldron, the offensive coordinator, or his supporting cast bear a large portion of the blame for the offense’s 2023 woes. Some people firmly believe that Smith is not the franchise quarterback and that the organization should go on to find a different starting quarterback.
Bringing the conversation back to the Williams trade, though, the signal it sends is clear: Pete Carroll and John Schneider believe they are contenders in 2023. Or, at least on October 30, 2023 when the team agreed to trade a second and a fifth round pick to the Giants for Williams they believed they were contenders.
And, if Carroll and Schneider believed on October 30, 2023 that the team was set to contend in 2023, then it means they believe that they can contend with Geno Smith as the starting quarterback.
The ramifications of that position go far beyond just the 2023 season, though, and could shed some light on what the team will do in the 2024 draft. So, while many fans are looking at Seattle potentially using a Day 1 pick on a quarterback, Pete and John may have other plans if they don’t feel the route that most likely puts the Hawks in contention is taking a quarterback early in the 2024 draft.
With all that in mind, one other potentially noteworthy piece of the puzzle is the fact that Carroll’s current contract runs through the 2025 season. By itself, that’s not something that will raise an eyebrow, but what could be no more than a coincidence just as easily as it could be another piece of the puzzle, is that Smith’s contract also runs through the 2025 season.
So, if Carroll believes in Smith to the point where he believes the Seahawks can compete with Geno as the starting quarterback, any analysis of what Seattle will do at quarterback in the offseason would seem to start with what the Seattle will do at head coach in the offseason.
