Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith has been a pleasant surprise for Seattle fans in 2022, leading the team to a 5-3 start atop the NFC West division with his efficient, accurate passing.
Smith's stats aren't mind-boggling (at least compared to quarterbacks such as Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes) but have been more than enough to help Seattle win games: 181 of 249 passing (72.7 percent) for 1,924 yards and 13 touchdowns to three interceptions. He has six games throwing for multiple touchdowns, including a three-TD, zero-interception game in a 39-32 loss to the Saints in Week 5.
Even if Smith isn't exactly stat-padding, one ESPN commentator, former NFL quarterback Dan Orlovsky, thinks the veteran should be in the MVP race for his play. From Monday's morning of "Get Up!":
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“There is no quarterback that has more perfect throws in every game than Geno Smith," Orlovsky said. "There’s one quarterback in the NFL this season with less than 10 percent of his throws off-target, the only person is Geno Smith. That’s why he’s right in the MVP race. He has more perfect throws than any guy in the league right now.”
Orlovsky also pointed out how Smith's receivers have had trouble with drops this season — otherwise he would have even more yards and higher completion percentages. As it stands now, Smith leads the league in completion percentage and ranks eighth in yards, fifth in touchdowns, fifth in adjusted yards per attempt (8.2) and third in quarterback rating (107.2).
As Orlovsky notes, Smith is also the only quarterback in 2022 thus far whose off-target throws account for 10 percent or less of his passes. He leads the league in that metric, with only 8.6 percent of his throws off target (Jimmy Garoppolo is second, with 11.1 percent of his throws being off target). Smith is third in the league in on-target percentage, at 80.6.
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It remains to be seen whether Smith's efficient play will be enough to result in an NFL MVP. The latest odds from the Caesars Sportsbook list the Seahawks quarterback at tied for 10th at +10000 with Tom Brady, Kyler Murray, Dak Prescott, Justin Jefferson and Saquon Barkley.
That's pretty good company for the 32-year-old quarterback, whose play this year has the team challenging for a division title and spot in the playoffs. Seahawks fans doubtless would love Smith to be rewarded for his play.
Either way, everyone who has watched the Seahawks this year knows how big an impact Smith has had on the team.