Raiders beat reporter says what Seahawks fans already knew about Geno Smith

Following Russell Wilson's 2021 trade to Denver, Seattle acquired Drew Lock, but Geno Smith emerged as the Seahawks' starting quarterback. Head coach Pete Carroll favored Smith due to his familiarity with Seattle's system after years as a backup and his strong throwing ability.

Over three seasons, Smith delivered competent but unexceptional performance, with the team consistently achieving mediocre results despite having talented offensive weapons. Analyst Tashan Reed attributed Seattle's offensive decline partially to external factors like poor offensive line play and ineffective run schemes, noting Smith couldn't single-handedly elevate an underperforming unit.

Smith demonstrated impressive arm strength and mobility but struggled with inconsistent decision-making. He often hesitated to run when opportunities arose and favored high-risk "splash plays" over safer options that could sustain drives. These tendencies mirrored issues previously seen in Russell Wilson's play.

Critical errors defined Smith's 2023 season, particularly in the red zone where he led the NFL in interceptions. Costly turnovers against the Rams in Week 9—including a 102-yard pick-six—directly contributed to Seattle missing the playoffs despite otherwise competitive performances.

Smith's tenure presented a quarterback paradox: he engineered dramatic fourth-quarter comebacks (leading the NFL in 2023) yet simultaneously undermined victories with poor decisions. His 17:15 TD-to-INT ratio entering the final game exemplified this inconsistency, resulting in a team capable of avoiding disaster but incapable of playoff success.

For the Las Vegas Raiders, Smith represents an upgrade at quarterback who should improve their record toward .500. However, he's expected to replicate the same pattern seen in Seattle—occasionally winning unwinnable games while inexplicably losing contests that should be victories, limiting the team's ceiling.