Geno Smith, NFL’s 18th best quarterback? PFF analyst explains reasoning

Professional Soccer Focus just lately launched its rankings of the highest (projected) beginning quarterbacks within the NFL forward of the 2024 season. The quarterbacks are separated into tiers, of which one is devoted completely to Patrick Mahomes.

Geno Smith is in Tier 4, which is described as “The Melting Pot of Starters.” I’d argue these are usually the quarterbacks who considerably divide opinion to a point. Alongside Smith are Jordan Love, Brock Purdy, Tua Tagovailoa, Kirk Cousins, Jared Goff, Kyler Murray, and Caleb Williams. Geno is available in at No. 18 (solely forward of Williams in his tier).

Right here’s the PFF blurb:

Smith put collectively back-to-back very strong seasons in 2022 and 2023. In his most up-to-date marketing campaign, he elevated his big-time throw price from 5.4% to six.0% and lowered his turnover-worthy play share from 4.2% to three.5%. He missed two video games because of a groin damage in 2023, so a few of these cumulative numbers might have been even higher.

However Smith’s two years have been a story of 4 quarters. Within the first half of 2022, he earned the third-highest passing grade within the league. Within the second half, he led the league in turnover-worthy performs. Within the first half of 2023, he had extra turnover-worthy performs (13) than big-time throws (11). However from Week 10 on, he was prime 5 in passing grade and big-time throws.

At 33 years outdated and getting into the ultimate 12 months of his cope with assured cash, Smith might not be seen as a franchise quarterback. However he’s completely the type of man who can engineer a win in any given week.

Trevor Sikkema defined his reasoning to hosts Michael Bumpus and Stacy Jo Rost on Seattle Sports activities 710.

“Actually, once I had him at 18, it felt low for the highs that I’ve seen in Geno,” Sikkema mentioned Wednesday on Seattle Sports activities’ Bump and Stacy. “But it surely was simply the up and down … for the final two years that was type of robust for him. I consider he’s a very good quarterback. It’s simply type of a consistency factor. However we’ve seen it from him, for positive.”

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“He’s had these streaks over the past couple of years and also you’ve simply gotta all put it collectively,” Sikkema mentioned. “Him being wholesome, the blokes round him being wholesome, having that consistency, attending to play a ton collectively, that chemistry. I believe that it’s all there for Geno.”

It’s onerous to disagree with the concept Geno has had some main peaks and valleys as a Seahawks starter. The recent begin to 2022 gave approach to a little bit of a cooldown towards the tip of the season, and his sturdy end to 2023 (beginning with the 41-35 loss to the Dallas Cowboys) was preceded by up-and-down performances. There have been undoubtedly some extenuating circumstances relating to accidents (together with to himself final season) that factored in, however the outcomes are the outcomes.

I do know that he fared loads higher beneath strain than the attention take a look at might point out.

Hopefully with a brand new offensive coordinator and a greater offensive line, we are able to see extra of one of the best of Geno than his lowlights in 2024… or perhaps you suppose it doesn’t matter the OL or OC, the No. 18 rating is actually who he’s. Vote within the ballot under!