The Seattle Seahawks let a game they could have won slip away against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 9.
Geno Smith has shown he can make impressive plays, but lasting success depends on his ability to consistently reproduce what works. In Week 9, Smith threw three interceptions but also made three touchdown passes, with several well-placed throws only his receiver could catch. He has clear potential.
This has been the ongoing story for the Seattle Seahawks quarterback over the past two-plus seasons: he can lead the team to victories but not consistently enough to make them a true threat. In Week 9, Smith gave the team points, but he also took some away.
In the fourth quarter, Smith had two interceptions in the red zone. Although he finished with three interceptions, the first wasn’t entirely his fault; it was a decent pass that bounced off wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba and into the hands of a Rams defender. However, the last two were solely on him.
Geno Smith throws the game away for the Seahawks in Week 9 versus the Rams
With their bye week coming up, the Seahawks need to evaluate their standing as a team. If they believe, perhaps mistakenly, that they are still in playoff contention, they may avoid making changes. However, if they see this season as part of a rebuilding phase—which is likely the case—a change at quarterback might be necessary.
Geno Smith has performed well enough early on to keep his role, but he lacks the caliber to lead a championship-level team. While he’s good enough to avoid being a liability, he’s not exceptional. Seattle could potentially make the playoffs with him, as they did in 2022, but wouldn’t likely go far.
One concern is Smith’s cap hit of nearly $40 million in 2025; cutting him would save $25 million, paving the way for Sam Howell as QB1. Howell may not be elite either, but he would cost Seattle just over $1 million next season, a significant savings as they face a tight cap situation in 2025.
Smith’s performance against the Rams marked perhaps his worst game since becoming the starter in 2022. In a tied game, he threw a costly interception directly to Rams corner Kamren Kinchens, who returned it 103 yards for a touchdown. Later, another interception occurred when he threw low to an empty area, again picked off by Kinchens after Seattle’s special teams had set up the offense in prime scoring position.
Although Smith wasn’t the main reason for losses in Weeks 3-7, he contributed heavily to the Week 8 blowout against the Bills and was nearly the sole reason for the Week 9 loss to LA. As the offense struggles, Smith’s performance has become a growing factor in their decline.
Now sitting at 4-5 after a 3-0 start, the Seahawks are last in the NFC West, and playoff hopes are fading. At 34, Smith seems unlikely to elevate his play beyond his current level, which falls short of making Seattle a competitive playoff team.
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