Seahawks’ Geno Smith lands elite placement in latest QB rankings

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith believes he’s an elite signal caller. Smith proved capable of hanging with the best passers in the league during his breakout 2022 campaign. He ranked first in the league in completion percentage (69.8%, minimum 100 passing attempts), fourth in passing touchdowns (30), and eighth in yards (4,282) in his first season as the franchise’s starting QB.

Injuries and a disjointed offense limited Smith’s potential in 2023. It’s true that his passing yards and touchdown totals suffered from missing two regular-season contests, but it’s worth acknowledging his completion percentage also plummeted to 64.7%. The Seahawks made offseason changes to the offense, hiring Ryan Grubb as the new offensive coordinator.

At least one major outlet sees Smith recapturing his 2022 magic this season. The Ringers’ Steven Ruiz recently released his annual QB rankings. Smith clocks in at No. 10 overall, ranking ahead of quarterbacks like CJ Stroud, Jordan Love, Tua Tagovailoa, and Brock Purdy.

“Geno Smith has developed into one of the most well-rounded quarterbacks in the NFL,” Steven Ruiz writes. “He doesn’t have the biggest arm in the league, but he might throw the prettiest ball. He can’t run away from defenders like Lamar Jackson or Kyler Murray, but he can make plays on the move. He steps up in the face of pressure rather than backing down. He makes quick, smart decisions but will also hold on to the ball for a beat longer when the situation calls for it.”

The Seahawks are expecting big things from Smith this season. He still possesses a fearsome trio of receivers in DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Hopefully the offensive line is improved through the acquisitions of George Fant and Connor Williams. Smith could thrive in Grubb’s new-look offense.

You can view the entire Smith excerpt and The Ringer’s complete QB rankings here.