salary cap going up - can we keep Geno?

Of course the team can keep Geno but, the real question is do they really want to keep him at a price that he would agree to be paid.

All in all I'd suppose it's going to be up to Geno, I'd not be surprised if he is kept with an annual out but most certainly not for $44,500,000 p.a..

Suspect Geno will realize that there are not many jobs that pay as well as his and he will compromise or risk hoping that another of the other 31 teams will pick him up to be a starter at better $ than the hawks will pay.

It's likely he'll be kept on a more team friendly deal than the present deal.

jammerhawk said:

Of course the team can keep Geno but, the real question is do they really want to keep him at a price that he would agree to be paid.

All in all I'd suppose it's going to be up to Geno, I'd not be surprised if he is kept with an annual out but most certainly not for $44,500,000 p.a..

Suspect Geno will realize that there are not many jobs that pay as well as his and he will compromise or risk hoping that another of the other 31 teams will pick him up to be a starter at better $ than the hawks will pay.

It's likely he'll be kept on a more team friendly deal than the present deal.

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Exactly. They will restructure to somewhere between $26-$30 million/year with incentives just like his last contract.

Wsumatt1982 said:

Exactly. They will restructure to somewhere between $26-$30 million/year with incentives just like his last contract.

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Yep most likely scenario. I think the biggest hurdle is the team will want a near cost free out after each year and Geno isn't going to want that. That could stall things.

Ozzy said:

Yep most likely scenario. I think the biggest hurdle is the team will want a near cost free out after each year and Geno isn't going to want that. That could stall things.

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It could stall things. Geno doesn't really have the leverage at his age while still under contract. It's a tricky situation but I fully believe an incentive-based restructure will get done. Time will tell. He's done it before and when it didn't matter (week 18 last year) we still let him go out and earn those incentives when there was nothing to play for. The team has done right by him and he could return the favor. He knows he doesn't have long left.

Wsumatt1982 said:

Exactly. They will restructure to somewhere between $26-$30 million/year with incentives just like his last contract.

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Eh, with the new salary cap, I'm guessing he's going to get at least a $30M+.

If I were to guess, I'd peg it at a very similar contract to Baker Mayfield. Probably 3 years, around $35M each year (to get above $100M on the top line reported number), and probably something like $45M guaranteed. Still incentives that could bring his numbers up, but I'll bet now that we have a legit defense they'll try and (similar to Baker) try and divide the incentives up between QB success and team success more evenly.

Kirk Cousins contract probably gives leverage to the Seahawks, because no front office wants to be that team, but Geno's agent is going to point to Mayfield and Derek Carr for why it's got to be at least $30M AAV.

I lean more towards Baker's contract just because with the No Trade Clause and other things, Carr's contract is much more onerous for the Saints to get out of, and I think that flexibility--more than the money--is what the Seahawks are going to want.

The real question is, "Can we keep Jones?" A lot more teams are going to be able to meet his asking price now -- which means that price just went up.

Kamcussionator said:

The real question is, "Can we keep Jones?" A lot more teams are going to be able to meet his asking price now -- which means that price just went up.

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If his asking price is reasonable, we can.

If it's Patrick Queen money, I think we could do it. If it's Roquan Smith money, I think we'd probably let him walk.

The other question I have, though, is 'Does Macdonald think he's a top 5 ILB?' The change we had in the middle when Jones got here was impressive and undeniable. But is Jones uniquely that guy or was it more just that Baker and Dodson weren't, and Jones was the only available guy who they thought was?

Jones has top 5 level play recognition, sure tackling, but middling speed at the ILB spot. There is a definite case to be made (and I would personally) that he's worth it. However, Kyzir White and Jamien Sherwood are coming off good seasons on middling-to-bad defenses and are probably going to cost about half of what Jones will.

DarkVictory23 said:

Eh, with the new salary cap, I'm guessing he's going to get at least a $30M+.

If I were to guess, I'd peg it at a very similar contract to Baker Mayfield. Probably 3 years, around $35M each year (to get above $100M on the top line reported number), and probably something like $45M guaranteed. Still incentives that could bring his numbers up, but I'll bet now that we have a legit defense they'll try and (similar to Baker) try and divide the incentives up between QB success and team success more evenly.

Kirk Cousins contract probably gives leverage to the Seahawks, because no front office wants to be that team, but Geno's agent is going to point to Mayfield and Derek Carr for why it's got to be at least $30M AAV.

I lean more towards Baker's contract just because with the No Trade Clause and other things, Carr's contract is much more onerous for the Saints to get out of, and I think that flexibility--more than the money--is what the Seahawks are going to want.

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That's a very good point. I was still basing the $26-$30 million off the old cap projection. I'd still be ok with around the $30 million mark. I think the Seahawks will push back with the Kirk Cousins contract like you said. It will get interesting. We will know more in a couple weeks.

With the new Mcdonald/Kubiak movement our best option moving forward is to cut Geno and save the 25-31M. There is a vision for the future and keeping Smith at 44.5M will only retard those hopes. Also, as a GM you want to foster your relationship with the players instilling that Seattle is a destination that you will be rewarded for stellar play to keep your players and attract FA's.
But you also want the team to know you are very serious about building a dynasty and winning Super Bowls.
Paying your aging QB 44.5M for one year of play does not reflect those goals. And though cutting GS seems risky short term, will greatly accelerate both our QB search & roster building.
I doubt JS has the Kahuna's to do it mainly because he kept RW for 2-3 years longer than he should have and never resumed a QB search even when he had extra first rounders from the trade. I think John is a path of least resistance guy who wants to avoid toppling the apple cart even if it is moving very slowly, (see won't throw $ at O-Line, lack of QB urgency).
I think making deep cuts and building this team now would be the most effective and fastest way to future success and that is a GM's primary responsibility. If Geno was let go I don't think anyone will pay him near 40M and it will likely be a bottom feeder team.

I think this strategy will attract potential starters & backups and we should take a Dick Vermeill, Mike Martz approach to our QB situation.
We should not go all in drafting a QB until they find one they really like (JS past comments on Mahomes/Allen).
They should take some day 2 and 3 QB draft shots in the mean time while our cap savings bolsters our depth chart eliminating weak spots.
Then we will be ready to draft our guy and put him in a favorable position to succeed a year or two earlier than if we had kept Geno.

Delivered in 30 minutes or it's free.
It's time to cash in on that repeated 35 minute pizza delivery.

From Geno:
He wants a long-term contract at market price with some guaranteed money. He doesn't want to play out the last year of his current contract, an injury would be bye bye to the next long-term contract. Last season, he avoided getting hurt by not running the ball or getting hit.

From the veteran bridge QB market, Russell Wilson, Aaron Rodgers, Carr and Kirk Cousin all have good resumes and will travel. How does Geno compare to these guys? Favorably I think, except that teams need to trade for him while the rest not so. Geno's agent ought to be calling all the teams in need of a bridge QB, offers from those teams would likely to be market price, ie better than Schneider's.

Geno (82.5) vs Wilson (77.5): equally good long balls, easier to coach, and more versatile.
Geno (82.5) vs Rodgers (77.8): cheaper, easier to manage, fewer dramas, and just about as good on the field at this point.
Geno (82.5) vs Carr (85,6) : Similar, but Geno may be cheaper.
Geno (82.5) vs Kirk (74.4) : umm, not so sure, but Kirk wasn't good in 2024.


I think Geno will wear a different uniform in 2025, just my humble opinion. geNO shall their wish and dreams come true.

SoulfishHawk said:

How do you know this?

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Inference, deduction, oh hell, I made that up.

toffee said:

From Geno:
He wants a long-term contract at market price with some guaranteed money. He doesn't want to play out the last year of his current contract, an injury would be bye bye to the next long-term contract. Last season, he avoided getting hurt by not running the ball or getting hit.

From the veteran bridge QB market, Russell Wilson, Aaron Rodgers, Carr and Kirk Cousin all have good resumes and will travel. How does Geno compare to these guys? Favorably I think, except that teams need to trade for him while the rest not so. Geno's agent ought to be calling all the teams in need of a bridge QB, offers from those teams would likely to be market price, ie better than Schneider's.

Geno (82.5) vs Wilson (77.5): equally good long balls, easier to coach, and more versatile.
Geno (82.5) vs Rodgers (77.8): cheaper, easier to manage, fewer dramas, and just about as good on the field at this point.
Geno (82.5) vs Carr (85,6) : Similar, but Geno may be cheaper.
Geno (82.5) vs Kirk (74.4) : umm, not so sure, but Kirk wasn't good in 2024.


I think Geno will wear a different uniform in 2025, just my humble opinion. geNO shall their wish and dreams come true.

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I know we can take coach speak with a grain of salt, but Mike MacDonald did question why people ask if Geno is their guy or not. Klint Kubiak also said having Geno here was a big draw for wanting to come here. I get that JS makes the decisions and neither of those coaches will say he's not the guy until he is off the roster. It wasn't about what they said but the manner in which they both said it, is why I think he will be here in 2025. The last couple of offseasons there was hesitancy in answering that question. This year it was so matter of fact in their responses.

I suspect Toffee is right. Geno may find a better deal elsewhere

I see Geno as leaving b/c he'll get stubborn on the early out clauses which the team will be firm about. I can also see the team acquiring another less expensive player at QB to compete with our backups and not being promised a starting gig. There is immediate cap freedom of $23.5 mill which allows greater team flexibility and coming with a manageable dead money hit. The team may then be tempted to draft a prospect on the 2nd or 3rd day of the draft.

Some big difference in opinions about Geno, I'm not a believer in him going forward.

The clock is ticking on this situation. It won't be long before we know.

toffee said:

From Geno:
He wants a long-term contract at market price with some guaranteed money. He doesn't want to play out the last year of his current contract, an injury would be bye bye to the next long-term contract. Last season, he avoided getting hurt by not running the ball or getting hit.

From the veteran bridge QB market, Russell Wilson, Aaron Rodgers, Carr and Kirk Cousin all have good resumes and will travel. How does Geno compare to these guys? Favorably I think, except that teams need to trade for him while the rest not so. Geno's agent ought to be calling all the teams in need of a bridge QB, offers from those teams would likely to be market price, ie better than Schneider's.

Geno (82.5) vs Wilson (77.5): equally good long balls, easier to coach, and more versatile.
Geno (82.5) vs Rodgers (77.8): cheaper, easier to manage, fewer dramas, and just about as good on the field at this point.
Geno (82.5) vs Carr (85,6) : Similar, but Geno may be cheaper.
Geno (82.5) vs Kirk (74.4) : umm, not so sure, but Kirk wasn't good in 2024.


I think Geno will wear a different uniform in 2025, just my humble opinion. geNO shall their wish and dreams come true.

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It's all business.
Unless you're not running it like one.

Wsumatt1982 said:

I know we can take coach speak with a grain of salt, but Mike MacDonald did question why people ask if Geno is their guy or not. Klint Kubiak also said having Geno here was a big draw for wanting to come here. I get that JS makes the decisions and neither of those coaches will say he's not the guy until he is off the roster. It wasn't about what they said but the manner in which they both said it, is why I think he will be here in 2025. The last couple of offseasons there was hesitancy in answering that question. This year it was so matter of fact in their responses.

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When you run into Geno on the street, try to tell him that he should give up his next long term contract because Macdonald and Kubiak had some measured, sort of, kinda, kind words about him.

jammerhawk said:

I suspect Toffee is right. Geno may find a better deal elsewhere

I see Geno as leaving b/c he'll get stubborn on the early out clauses which the team will be firm about. I can also see the team acquiring another less expensive player at QB to compete with our backups and not being promised a starting gig. There is immediate cap freedom of $23.5 mill which allows greater team flexibility and coming with a manageable dead money hit. The team may then be tempted to draft a prospect on the 2nd or 3rd day of the draft.

Some big difference in opinions about Geno, I'm not a believer in him going forward.

The clock is ticking on this situation. It won't be long before we know.

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Geno is a gonner, unless there isn't a team out there that wants him. If he is a free agent, Carroll would have inked him already, the BIGGEST obstacle to Geno's future financial health is his current contract, ie that one more year on that contract.

Why should Geno stay if he has an alternative? This would be the third OC in 3 years, an OL can't protect, and a fan base that wants him gone.

No money, no love, and no good football reasons to stay.

Smith is due $31M in 2025. A decision needs to be made before his roster bonus becomes due on March 16. Either way there is $13.5M of dead money that has to be accounted for in the 2025 cap. Maybe you could get a pick around #80 for him in a trade but that's probably wishful thinking. If you keep him as is for 1 year and then move on you'll probably get a 3rd round compensatory pick in 2027. There's no obviously right or wrong decision. It's just a choice.

toffee said:

Geno is a gonner, unless there isn't a team out there that wants him. If he is a free agent, Carroll would have inked him already, the BIGGEST obstacle to Geno's future financial health is his current contract, ie that one more year on that contract.

Why should Geno stay if he has an alternative? This would be the third OC in 3 years, an OL can't protect, and a fan base that wants him gone.

No money, no love, and no good football reasons to stay.

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All options are still on the table, but I suspect the Seahawks won't allow him an alternative. I think they'll play out his contract and let him leave as a FA in 2026. Just my guess.

flv2 said:

All options are still on the table, but I suspect the Seahawks won't allow him an alternative. I think they'll play out his contract and let him leave as a FA in 2026. Just my guess.

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Yes, as far as Geno's concerned, his current contract is the obstacle that prevents him from getting employed with his future team.

toffee said:

Inference, deduction, oh hell, I made that up.

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My boy