The Seahawks have one of the stronger quarterback rooms in the NFL. While Geno Smith and Drew Lock both have their flaws, these last couple of weeks have demonstrated that they are both very-much capable of leading late game-winning drives, which is perhaps the most valuable quality that a QB can have at this level – where so many games come down to one possession.
While Geno Smith’s traditional numbers for the season are down, the same is true for every other quarterback, who have been limited by a league-wide defensive adjustment against giving up deep passes. Smith was the NFL’s best deep ball thrower in 2022, so he’s had to adjust as much as anybody. Considering the context, Smith is playing at a far above-average level and giving great value to Seattle given the size of his contract. The PFF grades support that.
Each week this season we have been evalauting QB play using different stats. This week we will be ranking the top 40 quarterbacks based on PFF’s position grades. Heading into Week 17, Smith is grading out at 80.2, which ranks No. 13 in the league, sandwiching him between two of the NFL’s rising young stars in C.J. Stroud and Trevor Lawrence. That’s good company to keep. Meanwhile, Drew Lock doesn’t have enough snaps to qualify but his grade (61.3) would place him in the high 30s right next to Gardner Minshew – which is about all you can ask of a backup.
Before we start, there are a few quarterbacks who are not on this list but are worth mentioning. Among the other QBs who don’t have enough snaps to qualify for PFF’s list are Taylor Heinicke, who’s at 64.3 for the Falcons, Nick Mullens at 52.9 for the Vikings and Case Keenum at 44.4 with the Texans. This week’s opponent will be Mason Rudolph, who earned a 65.0 grade for his first start with the Steelers last week. He’s at 60.2 for the year.
Dec 24, 2023; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Falcons quarterback Taylor Heinicke (4) greets quarterback Desmond Ridder…Dec 17, 2023; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones (10) warms up before…Dec 24, 2023; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Panthers interim head coach Chris Tabor talks withy…Oct 22, 2023; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bears quarterback Tyson Bagent (17) celebrates as he leaves…Dec 10, 2023; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; New York Jets quarterback Zach Wilson (2) drops…Dec 24, 2023; Denver, Colorado, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Bailey Zappe (4) prepares to throw…Indianapolis Colts quarterback Gardner Minshew (10) speaks with media Tuesday, Aug. 15, 2023, after fellow quarterback…Dec 11, 2023; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; New York Giants quarterback Tommy DeVito (15) reacts…November 5, 2023; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Aidan O'Connell (4) passes the football…New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones (8) leaves the game with an injury against the Miami…Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) warms up before their game against the Atlanta Falcons at…Dec 3, 2023; Landover, Maryland, USA; Washington Commanders quarterback Sam Howell (14) passes over Miami Dolphins…Tennessee Titans wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins (10) and quarterback Will Levis (8) celebrate their third touchdown…Dec 14, 2023; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (10) warms up before…Nov 5, 2023; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback Joshua Dobbs (15) celebrates after a victory…May 25, 2022; Berea, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) runs the offense with…Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) greets Tennessee Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill (17) after the Seahawks…Oct 8, 2023; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett (8)celebrates a game-winning touchdown with…Dec 24, 2023; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields (1) looks to pass the…Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Jake Browning (6) changes the play at the line of scrimmage in the…New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr (4) throws the ball in the fourth quarter against the…Dec 24, 2023; Houston, Texas, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Joe Flacco (15) on the sideline during…Dec 24, 2023; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) all smiles after…Dec 24, 2023; Denver, Colorado, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Bailey Zappe (4) and Denver Broncos…Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) shares words with center Ted Karras (64) Ofer being sacked…Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love (10)reacts following a fourth quarter touchdown against the Los Angeles…Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) rolls out to scramble during fourth quarter action. The Jacksonville…NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - DECEMBER 24: Geno Smith #7 of the Seattle Seahawks throws a pass during…Dec 10, 2023; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud (7) walks off…Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff looks on at warm up before the Denver Broncos game at…Nov 20, 2023; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) gestures to…Oct 22, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) passes the ball against…Oct 29, 2023; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (10) leaves the field…GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN - OCTOBER 29: Kirk Cousins #8 of the Minnesota Vikings takes to the…Dec 25, 2023; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (13) is tackled…Dec 25, 2023; Santa Clara, California, USA; Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) during timeout against…Oct 22, 2023; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) throws the ball…Dec 24, 2023; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (1) attempts a pass…Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) warms-up before the NFL game against the Miami Dolphins at…Dec 23, 2023; Inglewood, California, USA; Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) throws the ball against…
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