Geno Smith’s NFL journey has been a winding one since he came into the league back in 2013 out of West Virginia. After short stints with the Jets, Giants, and Chargers, he finally settled in as Russell Wilson’s backup with the Seahawks.
When given another chance to start, Smith didn’t waste it.
He spent five seasons with Seattle, including three as their starting quarterback. By the time he left, he had thrown for 12,961 yards, 76 touchdowns, and 36 interceptions — completing 68.5% of his passes along the way.
Smith’s comeback has been pretty impressive. This past offseason, when he couldn’t work out a contract extension with Seattle, he was traded to the Raiders and ended up reuniting with his old coach, Pete Carroll.
Even with all the effort and progress he’s made, Smith hadn’t really gotten the national spotlight—until now.
ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky recently put him in the spotlight with a deep dive ranking NFL quarterbacks across several traits like arm strength, ball placement, mechanics, decision-making, pocket presence, rushing ability, and second-reaction skills.
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Smith appeared on three of those lists: ball placement, mechanics, and decision-making.
The most surprising part? He ranked ahead of Kansas City Chiefs star Patrick Mahomes in mechanics.
“When it comes to mechanics, I’m looking for a smooth and repeatable throwing motion that doesn’t change even under pressure,” Orlovsky wrote. “Technically sound quarterbacks operate from a strong base, allowing them to stay in rhythm and deliver the ball through the same process — start to finish — even when the pocket isn’t clean.”
Smith’s road hasn’t been the smoothest, but through hard work and persistence, he’s finally getting the recognition he’s earned. After moving from team to team, he’s grown into a steady, all-around starter that’s catching the eye of some big-name analysts.
Now that he’s in the national spotlight, he’s showing how dedication and fine-tuning your skills can change the story of a quarterback — one accurate throw at a time.