NFL analyst ranks Geno Smith in top-5 most-underrated players over 30

Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith seems to be the Rodney Dangerfield of the modern NFL. No matter how well he's played over these last couple of seasons, it seems the average fan still sees him as a backup quarterback at best. As a result, Smith has been consistently gone under-appreciated during this run as Seattle's starter. There are some folks who know ball well enough to recognize a truly great passer when they see one, though.

One of them is Gus Logue at SB Nation, who has named Smith to his list of the five most-underrated players in the league who are over 30 years old. The top spot went to Texans right guard Shaq Mason , followed by Rams cornerback Darious Williams, Browns wide receiver Amari Cooper and Dolphins running back Raheem Mostert. Meanwhile, Geno Smith came in at No. 5. Logue did his homework, too. Here's what he wrote about No. 7.

"Smith is a big-game hunter. He ranks top-5 in completion percentage, yards per attempt and passer rating on deep passes since becoming Seattle’s starter two seasons ago. He’s led the league in PFF’s ‘big-time throw’ rate on such throws each year, which is particularly impressive because he also ranked outside the top 10 in ‘turnover-worthy play’ both seasons. To produce positive plays without sacrificing negative ones is a sign of great quarterbacking. Meanwhile, Smith was the only passer with a top-5 on-target rate and a bottom-5 sack rate when pressured in 2023, per Sports Info Solutions..."

Some truly impressive numbers are cited in there, which is another reminder that you can only put so much stock in traditional metrics like yards, touchdowns and passer rating. Over the last two years he has totaled 50 touchdowns, 20 interceptions and averaged around 3,900 passing yards per season. Not mind-blowing production, but also not at all representative of how special Smith's game is in some of the most important ways.

If nothing else fans should be able to recognize his clutch gene. Smith has posted six fourth quarter comebacks and eight game-winning drives over the last two years, including a league high five GWDs last year. Smith also led the NFL in completion rate the previous season.

Any genuine deeper look at his stats or his film will reveal that the Seahawks have something special here in Smith and at a great value given the size of his contract.