Geno Smith Contract Extension Makes Seattle Seahawks Ideal Landing Spot for Anthony Richardson

It’s hard to overstate just how well this offseason is setting up for the Seattle Seahawks, who own the No. 5 pick in April’s NFL draft.

On Saturday, they watched a deep and talented quarterback class put on a show at the NFL Scouting Combine — with Anthony Richardson busting through with an elite workout.

Two days later, the Seahawks locked down Geno Smith to a three-contract extension that NFL Media reports is worth $105 million if the 2022 NFL Comeback Player of the Year sees it to completion.

That security at the most important position in pro sports allows the Seahawks to draft the guy they think will be the best quarterback in five years, not five months. And given Richardson is both the most gifted and the rawest of this year’s class, the stage is set for the Seahawks to secure both their present and their future.

Seahawks Should Draft Anthony Richardson After Geno Smith Deal

First, the quick backstory:

None of this would have been possible if Pete Carroll and John Schneider didn’t decide to trade Russell Wilson to the Denver Broncos this time last year.

The Seahawks landed a jackpot in return, including the Broncos’ first-rounder in 2022 — which ended up being the No. 5 overall pick in large part because Wilson was dreadful in his first season in Denver.

The Wilson trade also cleared the way for Smith to compete for and win the starting job. He turned that opportunity into generational wealth, completing 70% of his passes for 4,282 yards, 30 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions in a contract year.

MORE: Geno Smith Wins NFL Comeback Player of the Year

The Seahawks were determined to keep Smith in Seattle and hammered out a new contract the day before the franchise tag deadline.

But as Carroll and Schneider said at the NFL Scouting Combine last week, retaining Smith doesn’t preclude the Seahawks from using their top-five pick on another quarterback.

“They don’t grow on trees,” Schneider said. “It’s probably the hardest position to acquire talent that everyone feels very confident in.”

Carroll added, “It’s the position we are in. We are totally connected to the quarterbacks that are coming out. This is a really huge opportunity for us. It’s a rare opportunity. We’ve been drafting in the low 20s for such a long time you just don’t get the chance at these guys. We are deeply involved with all that.”

The Case for Anthony Richardson

The Seahawks’ position of strength at quarterback allows them to draft a project, but one who, if he ever puts it all together, could be the most dynamic player we’ve ever seen at the position.

Richardson is built like Cam Newton (6-4, 244), jumps like LeBron James (he set Combine records for a quarterback in the vertical and broad jumps), throws like Thor, and runs like Robert Griffin III (he posted a 4.43-second 40).

He also needs to learn how to play the quarterback position. In 22 games at the University of Florida, he completed 54.7% of his passes and threw just 24 touchdowns with 15 interceptions.

MORE: 2023 NFL Draft Quarterback Class

Richardson’s ceiling is the moon, but his floor is the Earth’s core. He would be a true projection pick — which might be something that scares away the Texans and Colts, who own the second and fourth selections, respectively.

Those teams need quarterbacks now.

The Seahawks do not.

And by playing the long game, they could end up with a generational talent.