selected with the pick 39 of the 2013 draft for the New York Jets, Gene Smith could be considered until recently as someone close to a bust: bad first year as Jets rookie, little improved in second and since then, eternal study in different NFL franchises.
Between 2015 and 2021, Smith only started five games between Jets, Giants, Chargers and Seahawks, where he has been playing since 2020.
In Seattle, it was Russell Wilson Injury Life Insurance and he already had some good performances last season, just in games where Rush wasn’t present: he played for 702 yards on 65 of 95 completions (68.4%), scored 5 touchdowns and had just one interception. His mark of 103 was identical to that of Wilson himself, the team’s starter, but of course, the sample was very small (just three games as a starter).
GENO SMITH FINDS DK 🍿
(via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/GSgjQTOnez
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) October 8, 2021
The second life Smith’s NFL career had its defining moment in the United States last summer when Seattle has decided to trade Russell Wilson to the Denver Broncos. In the trade, another quarterback came to the Seahawks as Drew Lockewho would battle Smith to be the starting quarterback once the season begins.
The predictions for the Seahawks were the worst possiblewith give or take I put just 5.5 wins. Third-worst in the NFL, just above the Falcons and Texans, at 4.5.
However, a few months later, Seattle has become one of the biggest surprises of the campaignwhich leads the NFC West with 4-3 recordappearing between leading five offenses in the league in points and yardsand even begin to dream of one qualifying for the playoffs which until recently seemed like an impossible dream.
The big star for it? General Smith, of course.
@GenoSmith3 and the Qui play high!!! Keep shining Geno!
— Richard Sherman (@RSherman_25) October 23, 2022
The Florida-born quarterback was a sight to behold. To get started, leads NFL with 73.5% completion percentage. In addition, it carries 11 touchdowns against just 3 interceptions and has an average of almost 245 passing yards per game, plus another 19 (with a touchdown) on the ground.
Numbers that can put it quietly in the MVP discussionas unreal as that phrase may sound until last season.
Geno Smith shows off the wheels ♂️🏃 pic.twitter.com/rkDG80KOnA
— Action Network NFL (@ActionNetNFL) October 16, 2022
Smith always had it talent and the physical tools to stand out in the NFLbut it was only in the 32 years old where he seems to have found the necessary maturity to take full advantage of these virtues. Partly because of the good environment found in Seattle with receivers like Tyler Lockett, DK Metcalf and the trident of tight ends (Will Dissly, Colby Parkinson and Noah Fant, all in the top 16 at their position according to PFF). and partly because he received an opportunity that many years ago I did not have.
And it’s that if you take Smith’s numbers between 2017 and 2021, you’ll find that version of him in superstar mode was already starting to show: in 12 games (just 4 starts) during those seasons, he completed the 65% of his passes and had 6 touchdowns against one interceptionfor a more than positive rating of 96. Far from the spectacular 108 this year, but worthy of a starting QB.
Elite NFL quarterback Geno Smith, as we all expected a decade ago pic.twitter.com/s7yFGBOQEm
— BetMGM 🦁 (@BetMGM) October 23, 2022
Wilson’s departure opened the door for him and Smith made the most of his opportunity. Proving not only that accuracy that leads him to lead the NFLbut also a strong and accurate arm for deep passes: Leads the league in passing yards deep to left field (10) and is second in passing yards down the middle (9).
