Latest on Geno Smith and Tua, Bucs Plan at QB, Mariota Cut by Falcons, and Other NFL Bullets
Welcome to March. This is an exciting month on the sports calendar. March Madness, Spring Training, NFL free agency, and draft prep. Post-trade deadline NHL and NBA. Oh, and the weather is turning. It’ll be 56 and sunny this afternoon while I’m on the golf course for the first time this season. We will start with the Seahawks today and their “positive” progress on a Geno Smith extension.
- Seahawks GM John Schneider said on Tuesday that the organization is feeling good about where their progress on an extension with Geno Smith stands with two weeks left until the new league year opens.
- Smith made $7 million on a one-year prove-it deal with the Seahawks in 2022. Prove it he did. Smith took the Seahawks to the playoffs and won the NFL’s Comeback Player of the Year award. He also earned a Pro Bowl selection.
- The franchise tag deadline is March 7, which would cost $32.4 million on a one-year contract. Schneider noted the tag is “a tool” when asked whether the Seahawks could use it on Smith.
“All these negotiations, some go a little bit faster than others,” Schneider said. “Usually, when you’re talking about larger numbers, they take a little bit more time. Obviously much more complex than different sports with guaranteed contracts. So there’s a lot more that goes into these contracts.”
- Regarding Geno Smith, Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll told John Boyle of the team’s website: “We’re working it; the back and forth is all ongoing… How’s it going? I think it’s going to go in the right direction. We’ve got to get it done.”
- There’s no doubt that Tua Tagovailoa will be the starting quarterback of the Dolphins in 2023. But 2024? Miami isn’t quite ready to make that decision just yet.
- May 1 is the deadline for the Dolphins to exercise their option on Tagovailoa’s contract for his fifth NFL season. Head coach Mike McDaniel was asked about that during a press conference at the NFL Scouting Combine:
“We’re probably best served to utilize the time,” McDaniel said. “That’s kind of the way we’re approaching it, but that doesn’t mean that we’re spending any long period of time not discussing it. This is something that Chris and I have been working through.”
- GM Chris Grier said last month that he doesn’t believe Tua is more susceptible to head injuries than other players. However, the concussions that interrupted and ended his 2022 season will affect Miami’s decision.
- Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles discussed the Bucs’ plans at QB at the Scouting Combine. Bowles said that the Buccaneers “have a plan.” However, Bowles didn’t name any names or specifics of the plan.
- It was reported that Tampa Bay could roll with Kyle Trask in 2023. The Buccaneers would likely pair Trask with a low-cost veteran. This jives with Bowles’ comments about “competition at every position” and knowing that Tampa is “over the cap coming into this.”
- Maybe the Buccaneers want a guy like Marcus Mariota to pair with Kyle Trask. Mariota is now a free agent after the Falcons cut Mariota on Tuesday. Atlanta will save $12 million in cap space by cutting Mariota.
- Sticking with the quarterback theme, new Titans GM Ran Carthon said at the combine that Ryan Tannehill would be a Titan in 2023.
- Bengals director of player personnel Duke Tobin shot down the Tee Higgins trade rumors on Tuesday. Tobin said that he is “in the business of making the Cincinnati Bengals better” and that a trade of Higgins wouldn’t make sense.
- Tobin even said, “that’s their problem; go find a receiver on your own,” to perspective teams looking for a receiver of Higgins’ caliber. Alright. Anyway, Luis wrote about the Tobin comments on Tuesday. You can check that out here:
- CBS Sports’ Josina Anderson reported that the Texans and wide receiver Brandon Cooks would meet this week to discuss his future. So, there’s another name to watch for on the wide receiver trade market.
- The Buccaneers plan to release running back Leonard Fournette once the new league year opens on March 15:
- Potential top pick (and Bears target) Jalen Carter is in trouble with the police:
- Saying goodbye is never easy. But I gave it a shot this morning:
