The Bears currently hold two high first-round picks, including the Carolina Panthers‘ first-round pick, which is shaping up to be the No. 1 overall pick of the draft if the Panthers (1-11) don’t improve upon their league-worst record in the final five weeks of the season.

Why Seahawks Could Eventually Move on From Geno Smith

The idea of adding Fields — a dynamic dual-threat quarterback who has struggled to find success in winning games early in his career — comes as a direct result of Geno Smith‘s own struggles in his second season as the Seahawks’ starting quarterback.

“Playing some of the best football of his career, Geno Smith guided the Seahawks back to the postseason in 2022 by maximizing the likes of dynamic receivers D.K. Metcalf and Tyler Lockett with a heavy dose of rookie running back Kenneth Walker,” Lombardo wrote. “This season, Smith has battled through a shoulder injury that has limited his upside — although Walker is averaging 4.1 yards per carry with six touchdowns and is on pace for a second consecutive 1,000-plus yard season.”

After leading Seattle to a surprising playoff bid last season while winning the Comeback Player of the Year award, Smith’s production has declined this season.

Smith has 15 touchdowns (3.7% touchdown rate) versus 9 interceptions (2.2% interception rate) for an 89.1 passer rating. Those numbers are a stark decline from his 5.2% touchdown rate, 1.9% interception rate and 100.9 passer rating from last season.

During the offseason, Smith re-signed on a three-year, $75 million deal with the Seahawks. However, there’s a potential out in the contract for the 2024 offseason that would see Seattle incur a $17.4 million dead cap hit by moving on from Smith. That cap hit eases if the Seahawks wait one more offseason by releasing/trading Smith, when it lessens to just an $8.7 million dead cap hit.

After leading Seattle to a surprising playoff bid last season while winning the Comeback Player of the Year award, Smith’s production has declined this season.

Smith has 15 touchdowns (3.7% touchdown rate) versus 9 interceptions (2.2% interception rate) for an 89.1 passer rating. Those numbers are a stark decline from his 5.2% touchdown rate, 1.9% interception rate and 100.9 passer rating from last season.

During the offseason, Smith re-signed on a three-year, $75 million deal with the Seahawks. However, there’s a potential out in the contract for the 2024 offseason that would see Seattle incur a $17.4 million dead cap hit by moving on from Smith. That cap hit eases if the Seahawks wait one more offseason by releasing/trading Smith, when it lessens to just an $8.7 million dead cap hit.

After leading Seattle to a surprising playoff bid last season while winning the Comeback Player of the Year award, Smith’s production has declined this season.

Smith has 15 touchdowns (3.7% touchdown rate) versus 9 interceptions (2.2% interception rate) for an 89.1 passer rating. Those numbers are a stark decline from his 5.2% touchdown rate, 1.9% interception rate and 100.9 passer rating from last season.

During the offseason, Smith re-signed on a three-year, $75 million deal with the Seahawks. However, there’s a potential out in the contract for the 2024 offseason that would see Seattle incur a $17.4 million dead cap hit by moving on from Smith. That cap hit eases if the Seahawks wait one more offseason by releasing/trading Smith, when it lessens to just an $8.7 million dead cap hit.

However, he holds a 7-26 record since entering the league in 2021. Among starting quarterbacks since the 2021 season, that’s the worst record.

It’s clear that Fields is one of the more talented quarterbacks in the league. However, playing for an organization such as the Bears isn’t doing him any favors in his development. If he were to arrive in Seattle, he’d play for one of the best head coaches, Pete Carroll, and he’d have one of the most talented offensive supporting casts, in Metcalf, Lockett and Walker.