I think most unbiased people would say that Geno has been a better QB.
Anyway, there's always more to the story.
It's fairly well known that Geno clashed with quite a few people within the team, both players & coaches.
Him & Metcalf didn't have the greatest relationship. In fact, it was pretty rocky at times. Geno has a short fuse & often blamed others when things didn't go well. Which ultimately made it easier for them to move on.
Pete is much more tolerant of stuff like that. He's willing to overlook it.
Cactus Jack wrote:An interesting quote from Brady Henderson (ESPN) who covers the team:
“When you talk about Sam Darnold versus Geno Smith, I think if you were to say to that coaching staff, that scouting staff… and get them in an honest conversation, I think they would tell you that Geno Smith is a more talented thrower of the ball and that the reasons they thought he (Darnold) was the better option for them went beyond that. I think they would tell you that they think he’s going to be a better leader than Geno Smith was. I wouldn’t discount the degree to which that was a factor in their decision to pivot away from Geno Smith and go to Sam Darnold — the leadership stuff.
“Some of the challenges with Geno were his temperament and the way that he carried himself and the way that he interacted with team mates and I think that they will tell you that, nobody knows how it’s going to go on the field but I think the people who are in the building who know Sam Darnold have vouched for the idea that this guy’s a good leader, he’s going to relate to his team-mates.”
Geno also had his jaw broken by a teammate. So, really, none of this should be surprising to anyone.
They we're looking for a replacement & Darnold just happened to be the best option at least for the short term. As he was coached by the OC in SF & knows the offense (Shanahan).
The rest of the options available weren't great, tbf. Also, bringing back a guy like Russ was never a realistic option due to the fractured prior relationship with the front office. So, their options we're kind of limited in that regard.
Ultimately, they're hoping that Milroe can eventually become the long-term starter. But if not, then they'll have to be more pro-active in future drafts.
Essentially, the Darnold contract gives them added flexibility. While also letting them keep all their options open. If he plays poorly, they can cut ties & move on rather easily.
