Seahawks’ Geno Smith listed as ‘Tier 3’ in The Athletic’s quarterback rankings

The Athletic’s Mike Sando launched the 2024 version of his annual Quarterback Tiers report (paywall). For those who haven’t checked it out but, enable me to spoil the large shock for you; Patrick Mahomes, Joe Burrow, and Josh Allen have been the three quarterbacks named in Tier 1.

Tier 1 is outlined as such:

A Tier 1 quarterback can carry his crew every week. The crew wins due to him. He expertly handles pure-passing conditions. He has no actual holes in his recreation.

With that mentioned, exhausting to argue with the Tier 1 choices! Curiously, Aaron Rodgers and Justin Herbert have been each demoted from their 2023 Tier 1 classification.

When it comes to the voting standards, rookies are exempt however the panel that includes the rankings is fully of NFL executives and coaches.

The 2024 QB Tiers outcomes are right here, full with commentary from the 50 NFL coaches and executives who have been granted anonymity to share candid evaluations. The panel consisted of seven basic managers, eight head coaches, 12 coordinators, 12 executives, eight assistant coaches and three concerned in teaching/analytics.

Every voter positioned 30 veteran quarterbacks into 5 tiers, from greatest (Tier 1) to worst (Tier 5). Quarterbacks have been then ranked by common vote and positioned into tiers based mostly on vote distribution, starting with Mahomes, whose 1.00 common vote mirrored his standing as the one unanimous Tier 1 choice. No QBs landed in Tier 5, though some obtained Tier 5 votes. The survey excludes rookies as a result of voters haven’t seen them play within the NFL.

The place does our man rank although? Geno Smith is Tier 3, extra particularly, tied with Derek Carr because the twentieth ranked quarterback within the Nationwide Soccer League.

So what precisely defines Tier 3, anyway?

A Tier 3 quarterback is a reliable starter however wants a heavier working recreation and/or defensive element to win. A lower-volume dropback passing offense fits him greatest.

Legit starter is right, however right here’s what was written about Geno:

Smith plateaued this 12 months after surging into Tier 3 following his breakout 2022 season. That was sufficient to complete one spot forward of Russell Wilson, the quarterback he changed in Seattle.

“He was a constant participant for 2 years in a row as a starter, and he performed good ball,” an offensive coordinator who positioned Smith in Tier 2 mentioned. “They didn’t win due to their run recreation. They didn’t win due to protection. They gained as a result of the cross recreation was fairly constant.”

Over the previous two seasons, Seattle ranked twelfth in EPA per cross play on offense and fourth-worst in EPA per play on protection.

“There are two guys within the 3 class who could be a little totally different,” a defensive coach mentioned. “Trevor Lawrence is one, after which Justin Fields can win the sport due to his toes. All people else, not a lot. I don’t really feel I’m going to lose a recreation due to Geno Smith.”

Humorous sufficient, I fully agree with that final sentence. I additionally don’t really feel like we’re going to lose a recreation due to Geno Smith.

Only for enjoyable, let’s check out how Tier 2 is outlined.

A Tier 2 quarterback can carry his crew generally however not as constantly. He can deal with pure-passing conditions in doses and/or possesses different dimensions which can be particular sufficient to raise him above Tier 3. He has a gap or two in his recreation.

Jared Goff, Brock Purdy, and Jordan Love are only a few of the Tier 2 quarterbacks.

I’ve some ideas, however to be sincere, Warren Sharp already mentioned it completely, so I’ll simply share his submit.

Personally, I’m getting fairly bored with the disrespect, however Geno appears to make use of it as gas, so I say, preserve it coming.

What do you suppose? Did the rankings panel get it proper?