Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith is coming off the best season of his professional football career.
The 32-year-old became a Pro Bowler in 2022 and threw for a career-high 30 touchdowns while leading the Seahawks to the playoffs. Smith hadn’t been a starting quarterback in the NFL since 2014.
He was also efficient and outperformed everyone else who gave the starting signal with his league-best 69.8% completion percentage.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith warms up before a game against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium on November 6, 2022 in Glendale, Arizona.
(Chris Coduto/Getty Images)
Smith will become an unrestricted free agent when the new league year begins in March.
Following the Russell Wilson trade, Smith took the starting job and signed a one-year contract in April that included a base salary of $3.5 million. The veteran quarterback earned an additional $3.5 million in incentives.
NFL HALL OF FAME DETAILS ADVICE HE GAVE EAGLES HURTS’ JALEN HEADING TO THE SUPER BOWL
Smith will likely be looking for a significant raise after his strong 2022 campaign, but has hinted that he wants to stay in the Pacific Northwest.
«We’ve had conversations and we’re in the process of working all of that out right now,» Smith said Friday. «It looks great. We think we can do some things, but obviously those things take time. This is the process that I hate about the NFL because I just want to play football. But it’s also a business, so we have to take care of business. , and then we will return to football».
Smith also shared his appreciation for the Seahawks giving him a chance to succeed.
«I really wanted to show those guys that they were right,» he said. «For them to see the work that I’ve been doing, because I’ve been doing a lot of work behind the scenes, for them to recognize that it meant a lot to me.»
Geno Smith of the Seattle Seahawks celebrates after defeating the Los Angeles Rams in overtime at Lumen Field on January 8, 2023 in Seattle.
(Jane Gershovich/Getty Images)
Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll had previously shared his desire to keep Smith by 2023. General manager John Schneider also told Sports Radio 93.3 KJR-FM that he thinks Smith will re-sign.
TENNESSEE LEGISLATORS PRESS TO REPLACE COLUMBUS DAY HOLIDAY IN FAVOR OF SUPER BOWL MONDAY
Seattle has the option to use its franchise tag on Smith if the two sides can’t come to an agreement on a contract extension.
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) gets past Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Jonah Williams (92) during the first half of a game on January 8, 2023 in Seattle.
(AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
During an appearance on «The Pivot Podcast,» Smith declined to specify the size of the contract he expects, but said he «would love to be in Seattle.»
«I love Seattle,» Smith said. «We have a great relationship and I think we’ll work things out. When it comes to contracts, I think every player just wants to be paid what he’s worth. And it’s funny because a great friend of mine tells me, ‘It doesn’t matter.’ what check they write will never be your value because your value is not in money, it is not in monetary things.’ So you just want to be respected,» Smith said.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
The Seahawks and Smith exceeded expectations in 2022. The team went from 7-10 in 2021 and 9-8 this season and reached the postseason for the fourth time in five years and ninth time in 11 seasons.