The Las Vegas Raiders have their new quarterback, and it’s someone head coach Pete Carroll is familiar with.
Geno Smith has been traded by the Seattle Seahawks to the Raiders in exchange for a 2025 third-round draft pick, according to multiple reports.
Las Vegas was always expected to add a quarterback this offseason after releasing Gardner Minshew and having quarterback troubles the past couple seasons with Jimmy Garoppolo and Aidan O’Connell in the mix.
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Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith throws a pass during the first half against the Los Angeles Rams Jan. 5, 2025, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Instead of signing a free agent or waiting for the 2025 NFL Draft, the Raiders made a blockbuster deal with the Seahawks, a team seemingly looking to shake up its own roster, to land the veteran signal-caller.
The Raiders, who have the sixth overall pick in this year’s draft, may still take a quarterback.
Smith only has one more year left on his contract, and ESPN reports the trade was done without an extension in place, meaning Smith would become a free agent in 2026.
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While the deal hasn’t been made official yet, Raiders star defensive end Maxx Crosby, who just became the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history with a new extension in Las Vegas, shared his thoughts on the news.
There’s also a reunion in “Sin City,” as new head coach Pete Carroll and Smith get back together.
When Smith joined the Seahawks in 2020, Carroll was in his 11th season leading Seattle. Carroll oversaw Smith’s career-altering campaign in 2022, when he was a Pro Bowler throwing for a career-high 4,282 yards with 30 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.
Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll talks with Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) against the Arizona Cardinals during the first half at State Farm Stadium. (Joe Camporeale/USA Today Sports)
The season cemented Smith’s spot as the team’s starting quarterback, and he’s held that role the past two seasons. Carroll, though, was let go after the 2023 season and was out of coaching in 2024.
The 73-year-old was brought back to the NFL by the Raiders.
The Seahawks, a team that released veteran receiver Tyler Lockett and has DK Metcalf requesting a trade, appear to be tearing things down by letting their franchise quarterback walk.
The Seahawks will immediately be a contender for free agent quarterbacks like Sam Darnold, Aaron Rodgers and others searching for a new team.
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) hands the ball to running back Zach Charbonnet (26) against the Chicago Bears during the first quarter at Soldier Field. (Daniel Bartel/Imagn Images)
Smith led the Seahawks to his best regular-season record since being named starter, going 10-7 in 2024. Despite those efforts, with Mike Macdonald as the team’s new head coach, the Seahawks missed the playoffs.
Despite a roller-coaster ride, Smith reset his career-high in passing yards, throwing for 4,320, also a franchise record. He threw for 21 touchdowns and 15 interceptions.
Despite just one playoff appearance in Seattle as a starter — a loss in the wild-card round in 2022 — Smith has proven he can get the job done in clutch moments. He led the Seahawks to four game-winning drives, and that ties him with Kansas City Chiefs star Patrick Mahomes with nine over the past two seasons.
Smith and Carroll hope he can drop that interception number heading into 2025. It was the third most in the NFL last season.
Geno Smith of the Seattle Seahawks warms up before a game against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium Dec. 24, 2023, in Nashville. (Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
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Macdonald consistently backed Smith despite questions about his future with the franchise, including last month when he said, “Geno’s our quarterback. I don’t understand the conversation. It’s pretty obvious this guy is a heck of a quarterback.”
But a shocking trade has gone down, altering both franchises heading into the new league year, which kicks off March 12, when free agents are officially allowed to sign with teams they’ve talked to during the legal tampering period beginning March 10.
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