Macdonald willing to await Geno Smith contract talks process, Seahawks new offense fits QB
Sure, Mike Macdonald would love to have Geno Smith signed as his quarterback for beyond just this final contract year.
But the Seahawks’ coach says he’s willing to wait through “the process.” That is, the negotiations general manager John Schneider is having this with Smith’s agents on a new contract beyond 2025 here at the NFL scouting combine.
“I mean, I’d love to announce it right now, that we’re rolling and Geno’s extended, and we can stop getting the question. Like, absolutely,” Macdonald said Wednesday off the podium in a corner of the Indiana Convention Center.
“But you’ve got to respect the process, too. And our guys are awesome. The way John handles his relationships with the agents...man, it’s a lot of stuff going on.
“To my knowledge, you kind of want to leave the situation to where everybody’s really excited about where we’re at, and then you move forward.”
Schneider said here Tuesday he will be meeting in Indianapolis with Chafie Fields, Smith’s agent, to discuss a contract extension for the 34-year-old Pro Bowl quarterback. The Seahawks are motivated to lower Smith’s scheduled salary cap charge for this year of a prohibitive $44.5 million for the final, 2025 season of his three-year, $75 million deal.
If they can do it by March 12, the first day of the league year and free agency, that could get the team under the NFL salary cap by the required day — even before they decide on the future of 32-year-old wide receiver Tyler Lockett (cap charge $30.9 million for this final year of his contract) and others.
“Yeah, we’re going to meet with him this week, meet with his agent, see where it goes,” Schneider said Tuesday.
The GM added: “We expect him to be our guy.
“But we want to do what’s right, too.’’
Macdonald has been saying since the 2024 season ended he wants the QB that set two team passing records this past season to return, that “We love Geno.”
The coach detailed why again on Tuesday, underlining that the Seahawks’ leaders continue to say variations of “Smith’s our guy.”
Macdonald said new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, hired from the New Orleans Saints last month, and new quarterbacks coach Andrew Janocko are bringing to Seattle a new system that will fit what Smith is best at. That is, moving and throwing.
Kubiak said this month a big draw to taking the Seahawks’ play-calling job was the chance to work with Smith and his skills.
“Geno is a very aggressive player,” Kubiak said. “Obviously has had a lot of production. Has been doing it for a long time, has overcome a lot in his career. I have a lot of respect for Geno.
“(It) was a huge draw to come here and to get to coach him, along side Andrew Janocko (also from the Saints).”
Kubiak said “we have high expectations for him. We are going to push Geno, and get the best out of him.”
Smith was second in the league last season with 15 interceptions, and threw the most picks inside the red zone, under the more drop-back, hold-onto-the-ball system of since-fired offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb.
“He’s not like, specific to this scheme or whatever, but this scheme (of Kubiak’s) has a track record of the quarterback playing fast. I just feel like if you can get the quarterback play to set decisive and fast it builds confidence,” Macdonald said. “It’s hard to defend on defense when the ball is out on time. And then all the play actions and the movements to be able to protect him that way, take pressure off the O-line, it’s going to help us.
“So both the track record of how Klint coached the quarterback, and their success, were really important. This scheme as a whole, you just think of all the guys who are coaching through this scheme. And, so, yeah, I think Geno, the things we know about: He’s tough as crap. He’s smart. He’s accurate as hell. I mean, he throws a great ball, sees the field. Plays with anticipation. Ultimate competitor.
“You line those things up with things that we doing, you’ve got to be excited.”
This story was originally published February 26, 2025 at 12:21 PM.
