Former NFL safety Jordan Babineaux predicted the Seattle Seahawks’ trade of Russell Wilson three years ago.And it makes his perspective on Seattle’s most important personnel decisions this offseason worth hearing.
Babineaux, who spent the first seven years of his nine-year NFL career with the Seahawks and has been a regular analyst on FOX 13’s coverage of the team, believes quarterback Geno Smith has already played his final down for Seattle. Not only that, but he believes wide receiver DK Metcalf is in the same camp.
On Friday’s Wyman and Bob, Babineaux told fellow former Seahawks player Dave Wyman and co-host Bob Stelton what has influenced his beliefs, and a large part of it is the similarities he sees now between Smith and when the team opted to move on from Wilson.
“In terms of where the Hawks are when you look at that time with all of the conversation and back and forth between Russell’s camp, Russell’s agent, and where the franchise was and the opportunity that they had to move him, we see something similar,” Babineaux told ESPN. “(It) could be happening again in terms of who they’re going to turn over the key for the franchise.”
According to Over The Cap, the 34-year-old Smith’s salary cap number for 2025, his final year under contract, is $44.5 million, a significant rise from $26.4 million in 2024. If Seattle cuts him before June 1, only $13.5 million will be a dead cap hit, saving the Seahawks $31 million. Of course, the Hawks and Smith might work out an agreement to reduce his budget hit for next season. In any case, it appears doubtful that Seattle will enter next season with Smith’s cap figure unchanged, especially given that the Hawks are expected to be nearly $16.2 million above the NFL’s projected 2025 salary cap, according to Over The Cap.
Wilson was projected to face a $26 million salary cap hit in 2022 at the age of 33 when the Seahawks dealt him to Denver.
However, Babineaux believes Smith will not be with Seattle this summer due to more than simply financial reasons. He stated that the team’s move to fire offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb last Monday further strengthened his opinion that significant changes are on the way this offseason.
“This will be Geno’s third offensive coordinator (since becoming Seattle’s starting QB in 2022),” he informed me. “I simply see this club as young, and if you look at what (general manager John) Schneider has done with this franchise over the years, he’s always tried to go younger.
“Geno is a capable quarterback, and I believe he is still a starting quarterback; he had his greatest year as a professional this year. I just don’t see him on the Seahawks’ roster next season because they’ll be seeking for someone (as offensive coordinator) to nurture and mature a young mind with newness, freshness, and something different at quarterback.”
What about DK?
Smith is not the only reason the Seahawks are struggling with their roster and salary cap this offseason.
According to Over The Cap, the 27-year-old Metcalf, a two-time Pro Bowler, has a large cap number for 2025 of just under $32 million, more than doubling his figure in 2024. Metcalf missed two games in 2024 due to injury and failed to reach 1,000 receiving yards for the first time since 2021, trailing second-year player Jaxon Smith-Njigba as Seattle’s most productive receiver.
“This was really the first year that we saw (Metcalf’s) production drop off, and in fact he missed two games and that was rare,” according to Babineaux. “But even when they decided to grant him a new deal (in 2022), it was just for three years, so I believe it was another test. So, ‘Let’s try him out for another three years and see if there’s any dropoff.” Again, his professional progress or growth fell short of 1,000 yards this season. I don’t think that’s the main cause. I believe offering something new and fresh is important. DK is a star and the number one receiver. (But) I don’t think they’ll bring him back for more than $30 million.”
What will the Seahawks do?
So, assuming Seattle does not re-sign Smith or Metcalf in 2025, what would the offseason look like? Babineaux identifies an area where the franchise has not traditionally made significant investments, but where head coach and former Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald’s former squad has tended to concentrate its efforts.
“I think this is the offseason where the Seahawks will finally invest in the offensive line,” Babineaux told the crowd. “… Correct me if I’m wrong, but Duane Brown was the biggest offensive line acquisition they made in the recent decade. Under coach (Pete) Carroll, the offensive line had no development or investment. And now, look at what happened in the midst of the season: your veteran center (Connor Williams) decides to go away after the bye week, and you bring in Olu (Oluwatimi to play center), and the other guys (are) fighting to fill the vacuum.
“You have a head coach in Mike Macdonald who came from the Baltimore Ravens, where the trenches were a key feature, primary (emphasis), and the gold standard for their success. They had and continue to have success because they win on both the offensive and defensive lines. And I believe there is where we will see the most investment – in protecting the quarterback, especially if they opt to bring in a rookie quarterback rather than getting a senior quarterback who may be available.”
Listen to the full Wyman and Bob talk with analyst and former Seattle Seahawks safety Jordan Babineaux on the podcast at this link or in the player near the top of this post. Wyman and Bob can be seen on Seattle Sports from 2 to 7 p.m. daily.
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