Though Seattle Seahawks' quarterback Geno Smith received his three-year extension with the franchise, the quarterback position isn't as clear as that contract assumes. 

With team training camp approaching sooner rather than later, it's time to dive into training camp previews, with the first installment being the position that Smith was able to win the starting job for last season and prove almost every team in the NFL wrong regarding his talent. 

Smith — in 2022 — put together the best season of his career. He broke Russell Wilson's single seasons passing yards record. And he completed nearly 70 percent of his passes. Smith also shined as one the league's preeminent deep-ball throwers, leading the league with 14 touchdown passes and a 47.6 percent completion rate on 20-plus yards throws.

In short, Smith set the league on fire last season. And for Seattle to win in 2023, he has to do it again. No pressure. 

The good news is that the Seahawks have invested in offensive weapons to make his life easier. Seattle drafted Jaxon Smith-Njigba in the first round. And already, Smith has declared the wide receiver an "impressive" rookie during offseason team activities. 

"He's so impressive," Smith said of Smith-Njigba last month. "Very smooth route runner. Natural hands. Also, the game is not too big for him. You can see he's got that self-confidence that you look for. He's learning. He's picking up his assignments, learning the offense, like all the other rookies and new guys. Jaxon has been tremendous so far and I'm just looking forward to see him grow and grow as the weeks come about."

Smith has D.K. Metcalf and Tyler Lockett returning as well. Dee Eskridge, who has battled injuries, is set to be available at the start of training camp. And the Seahawks also invested in a stable of running backs that feel interchangeable given the team's different needs on a given down. 

There is no excuse for Smith to struggle. 

If he does, it will most likely be because of turnovers, which, at the end of the 2022 season, were the quarterback's biggest bugaboo. 

Smith also wasn't the most effective passer in the 10-19-yard range. he graded out as one of the league's worst quarterbacks on passes traveling between that distance, including ranking 15th out of 22 qualified quarterbacks with a 57.9 percent completion rate and tying for fourth with six interceptions.

These are problems that will need equitable solutions in Smith's game, and fast. 

Looking at the rest of the quarterback depth chart, it breaks down as such: 

QB 2: Drew Lock.

QB 3: Holton Ahlers.

Lock and Ahlers don't really stand a chance to take the starting spot from Smith unless he has an absolutely awful training camp, so much of the battle featuring those two names will be to decide who will be the second quarterback on the depth chart. 

In that realm, though Ahlers has intriguing talent, Lock remains the guy with the advantage already having a year under Pete Carroll. What will be an interesting storyline to follow is whether Carroll's love for Ahlers outweighs the familiarity he has with Lock. 

During minicamp, Carroll raved about Ahlers, regardless of the hitch in his throwing motion and limited arm strength. So maybe that decision won't be as clear-cut as many are making it out to be. 

Either way, the Seahawks have plenty riding on the quarterback position heading into 2023. it isn't a QB room that will strike fear into the hearts of opposing teams, but with good coaching, a sound offensive scheme, and a version of Smith that looks somewhat as good as he was in 2022, it can be enough to win consistently this season. 

Seahawks’ Geno Smith discusses chip on his shoulder despite contract extension

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith still carries a big chip on his shoulder despite receiving a pretty hefty payday from the organization last week.

Feature image via Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports.