Seattle Seahawks quarterback and former Mountaineer Geno Smith has had quite the remarkable season in his first year as a starter for Seattle. Smith has led the Seahawks to an 8-8 record and playoff contention despite preseason predictions saying the team would be no more than a bottomfeader.
So far in 2022, Smith has thrown for 4,069 yards with 29 touchdowns compared to only nine interceptions.
These numbers will no doubt open the 32-year-old to a healthy contract extension in the offseason, but Smith’s stellar season will earn him some more money until that new contract gets signed.
Smith had already earned $750,000 for reaching 3,400 and 3,700 passing yards on the season, but after elapsing the 4,000 yards mark last Sunday agains the Jets, the former WVU star will be bringing in $1 million on passing yards alone.
Smith is also getting rewarded for his durability and time on the field during his first Pro Bowl season. Smith earns $250,000 each when he reaches 55%, 65%, 75%, and 85% of the Seahawks’ offensive snaps. With one regular season game left to play, Smith has been on the field for every offensive snap for Seattle, so he will earn another $1 million on top of his incentives for passing yards.
To top things off, Smith will also receive an additional $500,000 for being selected to the Pro Bowl and throwing for 20 touchdowns. Smith currently has 29 touchdowns and was selected to the Pro Bowl in late December.
Smith has proved the preseason critics wrong in his first season as a starter since 2014. After sitting behind the likes of Eli Manning, Phillip Rivers, and Russell Wilson, few thought Smith would take over the reins for Pete Carol’s Seahawks, and some even called for Drew Lock to be the new man under center. Smith has brought himself to NFL stardom and his play in 2022 will get him a nice payout on top of the $2.5 million he has earned this year alone.
Smith and the Seahawks face the 5-11 Los Angeles Rams on Sunday. Seattle can clinch a playoff spot with a win over Los Angeles and a loss from the Green Bay Packers.
