Without saying it out loud, Geno Smith basically confirmed what we always thought: Pete Carroll’s return to the NFL precipitated Smith’s departure from Seattle.
We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again (along with ESPN’s Brady Henderson): We think Smith very likely would still be in Seattle (under a new deal) if Carroll had not been hired by the Las Vegas Raiders.
Continue reading Carroll’s return was Geno’s out as he felt ‘disconnect’ in SeattleIn a surprising move that seemed unlikely based on everything John Schneider and Mike Macdonald had said, the Seahawks traded Geno Smith to Pete Carroll’s Raiders on Friday.
They got a third-round pick (No. 92) in return – which all things considered was a solid payout. In fact, if Carroll had not returned to the NFL, we doubt there would have been a trade market for Smith. Carroll and the Raiders clearly coveted Smith enough to give up a Day 2 pick.
Here is how it all went down, based on various reliable national NFL reporters:
Continue reading Geno traded: Why and how Hawks are suddenly changing quarterbacks
Three years ago, John Schneider had a decision to make: Extend DK Metcalf with a top-of-the-market deal or trade him.
Even though the Seattle general manager admitted to being shocked at the skyrocketing numbers for receivers back then (they were just hitting $20 million per year), Pete Carroll really wanted to keep Metcalf, so Schneider paid the talented receiver $24 million per year.
Now Metcalf is again approaching the end of his contract and it’s deja vu all over again for Schneider.
Continue reading Will Schneider trade Metcalf this time?It is a surprise that some team wanted to hire a 73-year-old coach who fizzled out over his final three years in Seattle, but kudos to Pete Carroll for making an unexpected return to the NFL.
That now leads to natural questions about whether he might want to bring any of his former Seahawks players to Las Vegas. New Raiders GM John Spyvek, hired from Tampa Bay, will have a lot to say about that, of course.
The Raiders have plenty of roster needs, including quarterback, wide receiver and cornerback. The Hawks have three players at those spots whose names have been bandied about in trade speculation. Would Carroll have any interest in a reunion with Geno Smith, DK Metcalf or Riq Woolen?
Continue reading Carroll joining Raiders spices up offseason possibilities
Michael Jackson and Darrell Taylor always seemed destined to move on before Mike Macdonald’s Seahawks ever played a real game, so it was no surprise the backup defenders were traded on consecutive days this week.
Taylor’s departure, which really comes a year too late, marks the end of John Schneider’s 2020 draft class – none of whom made it to a second contract in Seattle as Taylor’s $3.1 million returns to the Hawks’ salary cap.
Continue reading Hawks traded Taylor a year too late; Metcalf only 2019-20 pick left
DK Metcalf trade rumors and reports just won’t die.
A segment of fans keeps insisting the Seahawks should trade their star receiver, and some even think the Hawks were trying to use him to trade up in last weekend’s draft – probably based on speculation from anonymous league sources to The Washington Post.
But there was no legitimate report indicating that Seattle was shopping Metcalf. In fact, the report that the Hawks allegedly tried to get into the top 10 for Michael Penix Jr. was debunked by both Curtis Crabtree and Brady Henderson.
Now there is scuttlebutt that Pittsburgh has called Seattle about a possible deal to reunite Metcalf with Russell Wilson. No surprise, considering the Steelers reportedly were trying to get Brandon Aiyuk from the 49ers.
As fun as a Wilson-Metcalf reunion would be for the rest of the league to see, the Hawks actually have never shown an inclination to trade their star receiver — and they certainly seem better off with him than trading him for some extra cap space and a first-round pick.
They certainly will be able to afford to keep him.
Continue reading Why trade Metcalf? Hawks can easily extend him again
As fans across social media debate the Sam Howell trade, perhaps the best way to frame the discussion is thus: Did the Seahawks just trade for Matt Hasselbeck or did they trade for Charlie Whitehurst?
In other words, did they add a potential franchise passer or a second-tier backup? Or maybe something in between?
A few weeks ago, we set the table for the transition from holdover quarterback Geno Smith to a new QB who becomes Mike Macdonald’s guy. In that post, we retraced how Mike Holmgren landed Hasselbeck in Year 3 (2001) and how John Schneider took a swing on Whitehurst in his first year (2010), missed and didn’t get his QB until Year 3 either.
Hasselbeck turned into a franchise savior while Whitehurst was merely Clipboard Jesus. Which might Howell be?
Continue reading Is Howell a trade for Hasselbeck — or for Whitehurst?
Jamal Adams’ long anticipated release this week ended the worst trade/signing of John Schneider’s 14-year tenure in Seattle.
We actually had written off Adams 18 months ago, when he suffered a season-ending quadriceps injury in the 2022 season opener against Russell Wilson and the Broncos. So, for us, his release this week was just the official word on what we expected to happen ever since that Monday night game.
This is the result some feared from the day in July 2020 that Schneider sent two first-rounders and more to the Jets for the All-Pro safety. Those people hated the trade and dreaded the extension that was soon to come, suspecting it would be a waste of money. They were right.
Schneider still defends the deal as the way to go amid the pandemic in 2020. He is annoyed that people are criticizing the trade, which cost Seattle the 23rd and 86th picks in 2021 and the 10th pick in 2022.
Continue reading Schneider ‘tired’ of trade criticism, but Adams was his worst bustJohn Schneider apparently did not find much trade interest in Geno Smith at the Combine – at least that’s the conclusion we are drawing from a report that the Seahawks have told Smith he will be on the roster in 2024.
Per NFL insider Jordan Schultz, “The Seahawks have informed Geno Smith he will be on the roster in 2024 under his current contract. I’m told Smith has received commitment from Seattle’s front office.”
That is something that had seemed in doubt this week as both Mike Macdonald and Schneider had indicated no firm commitment to the 33-year-old quarterback.
But, based on the Schultz report, Smith seems set to start for a third season in Seattle. That doesn’t preclude the Hawks from making other moves at the position, of course.
Continue reading Smith reportedly won’t be traded, but will Schneider draft a quarterback?
“That’s a tough question, and it’s one that I probably can’t answer right now.” – Mike Macdonald on whether Geno Smith and Drew Lock will be on the team
Mike Macdonald seemed to answer the question raised by the Seahawks’ conversion of Geno Smith’s bonus last week: A trade is not off the table.
In an interview aired Sunday, KCPQ’s Aaron Levine asked the new coach, “Are Geno Smith and Drew Lock both involved in the future of this team going forward?”
Macdonald said, “That’s a tough question, and it’s one that I probably can’t answer right now. We’re doing a lot of work on those guys.
“Right now we’re in the phase of figuring out who they are. Obviously one or two or both would fit into our plan moving forward, but right now I probably don’t have that answer for you.”
At the Combine two days later, John Schneider also was noncommittal, saying Smith is “the starter until he’s not.”
Continue reading ‘The starter until he’s not’: Is a trade viable?
CHAWK TALK: Everything being said about the Seahawks 