Numbers say what analysts won’t about Seahawks' QB Geno Smith

When you ask most analysts to rank the starting quarterbacks in the NFL, Seattle Seahawks starter, Geno Smith usually comes in around fourteen to fifteen. Take these two rankings for example: one from CBS Sports and another from PFF.  NFL.com recently came out with an article featuring Next Gen Stats that paints a different picture […]

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When you ask most analysts to rank the starting quarterbacks in the NFL, Seattle Seahawks starter, Geno Smith usually comes in around fourteen to fifteen.

Take these two rankings for example: one from CBS Sports and another from PFF

NFL.com recently came out with an article featuring Next Gen Stats that paints a different picture of Smith. 

In this article, Geno Smith was ranked as the number one deep passer in the entire league. 

Nick Shook had this to say in his article.

Smith certainly didn't earn 2022 Comeback Player of the Year honors by playing it safe. The veteran let it rip plenty, completing nearly 50 percent of his downfield passes for over 700 yards, a good chunk of his 4,282 yards for the season.

These numbers are all impressive, but what vaulted Smith up to the top spot was just how productive he was when throwing deep. Nearly half of Smith's 30 touchdown passes came on deep passes, and his 13 downfield scores led all quarterbacks. This rate of success was stellar: 25.4 percent of Smith's deep attempts produced touchdowns in 2022.

The Seahawks have been constructed to throw the ball deep, with Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf at receiver. 

They recently added a new receiver in Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Njigba should be able to work from the slot and provide Geno Smith with some easy receptions in the short to intermediate areas. So, in other words, don't be surprised if Smith has an even better year in 2023.

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