Getty Image
Last season, Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith had a career year, as he led a team to the playoffs and was named to the Pro Bowl for the first time in his decade-long NFL career.
As a result of his landmark season, the Seahawks handed Geno a lucrative extension, as they signed the signal-caller to a 3-year, $105 million deal earlier this week.
Despite the new contract they’ve given Smith, there has been speculation that the team could still use a first-round pick on a quarterback during this April’s draft, especially considering the fact that they have two first-round picks.
And if the Seahawks do ultimately decide to select a QB, they certainly won’t have to worry about Smith making a big fuss as the veteran said earlier this week he’ll be there to “compete with and mentor” the hypothetical rookie.
“I’d say it’s both. I love to compete, so I’ll compete with anybody,” Smith said to reporters on Thursday.
“I’m also gonna help them out as much as I can. Same as we did with Drew [Lock]. Our QB room is so tight-knit and we’re all so connected that we act as one. Whether it’s a young guy or someone else, I’m gonna help that player just like any other player on our team be the best that he can be because that’s my job as a leader.”
What makes Smith’s resurgence even more incredible is that the team turned to him after shipping former franchise signal-caller Russell Wilson to Denver, where he had a torrid first season that resulted in his first-year head coach Nathaniel Hackett being fired.
The 2023 NFL draft will take place at Union Station in Kansas City, Missouri, from April 27 to April 29, with all three days of the draft being broadcast on ABC and ESPN.
RELATED: Pete Carroll Doesn’t Close The Door On The Possibility Of Seahawks Drafting A QB