Geno Smith’s road to redemption has been a roller coaster ride up to this point.
Currently, Smith is the Seattle Seahawks starting QB, and has spent the last couple seasons as a traveling backup.
As of today, Smith has the Seahawks sitting neutral at 2-2.
Fans and sport pundits speculated the team would tank to select standout college quarterbacks Bryce Young or CJ Stroud, after the team traded away franchise QB Russell Wilson to Denver.
But from the looks of it, the new look Smith won’t allow Seattle to snag neither.
Many remember Smith’s NFL career as a high-volume turnover player. Since given the reigns by Pete Carroll, he’s looked like a completely different player.
Under Carroll this season, the 31-year-old journeyman has looked calm and poised in all facets of the game.
Yeah, there are moments where he’s looked like his old self, but there are obvious improvements.
From Morgantown to the “Big Apple”
Smith had a stellar college career at West Virginia. Alongside receiver Tavon Austin, they would lead one of the most potent college offenses of the 2010s.
In 39 starts at West Virginia, Smith threw 97 touchdowns and 20 interceptions.
Smith’s collegiate career was an absolute spectacle, and some labeled him as the best QB prospect in the 2013 NFL Draft.
But many NFL teams thought otherwise.
The 2013 QB class was lack luster to say the least. Ten quarterbacks were drafted in 2013, and only two are still making a living in the NFL.
First being Smith, and second being Matt Barkley, who comes from a long line of failed USC “golden boy” quarterbacks.
When the draft arrived, Smith was taken on day two in the second round by the New York Jets, and was the second quarterback selected behind EJ Manuel.
A plethora of Jet fans thought Smith was the next star in the ‘Big Apple”. Obviously, those fans ate their words, as his time there was not a memorable one.
Geno’s Tough Start
After an unimpressive 8-8 rookie year where he threw 12 TDS and 21 interceptions, Smith’s time on the NFL field started to dwindle.
In 2015, former teammate Ik Enemkpali punched Smith in the mouth and broke his jaw. The altercation was due to an unpaid debt that Smith owed Enemkpali.
The altercation would sideline him for weeks and cost him his starting job to journeyman Ryan Fitzpatrick.
Unfortunately, Smith’s tenure as a Jet came to an abrupt end, after he tore his ACL in 2016 against the Baltimore Ravens.
The ACL injury Smith sub-stained basically put an end to his time as a Jet.
Now you can say the lack of offensive talent on the Jets played a part in his lack of quality stats.
Even so, Smith’s inability to limit his turnovers didn’t help his case either.
In 30 starts as a Jet, Smith went 12-18, and threw 36 interceptions and a measly 28 touchdowns.
After the Jets, Smith spent short stints with the New York Giants and Los Angles Chargers as a backup. Then the last two seasons, he resumed the reserve role in Seattle playing behind Wilson.
But once Wilson was traded to Denver, Smith was given a second chance to prove himself as an NFL starting quarterback.
Is Geno Really the Answer in Seattle?
The veteran quarterback was not handed the starting job. Smith competed against Drew Lock, who was also included in the Wilson trade.
Both Lock and Smith have the same qualities, which have attributed to their struggles in the NFL.
Inconsistency and the inability to manage the football has made the two spitting images of each other.
Either way, Carroll was forced to decide between the two, and eventually chose right with Smith. The choice put Smith in a primetime week one matchup against Wilson and the Denver Broncos.
Shockingly, Smith won and even outplayed the long tenured Seahawk, in what would arguably be one of the biggest wins in the franchise’s history.
Since then, Smith has gone a modest 1-2.
And up to this point, the former Jet has looked better than ever.
He has become a more accurate passer, completing a career high 77% of his passes.
Also, he has limited his turnovers, throwing only two interceptions so far.
In week four, Smith led Seattle to a 48-45 victory against the Detroit Lions. He ended the game Smith 23/30 with over 300 passing yards and three total touchdowns.
Hopefully Smith does not fall off a cliff anytime soon and creep back into his old ways.
Even though Smith’s not the immediate future of Seattle, the former Mountaineer has become a respectable quarterback in the NFL.
With receivers like DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett, and a steady run game, Smith should continue to thrive in Seattle…for now.