It is now safe to say the Las Vegas Raiders have had a transformative offseason, and free agency hasn’t even begun.
After hiring veteran head coach Pete Carroll to replace Antonio Pierce, it became very apparent that the team’s biggest need was finding a franchise quarterback to pair with him. Some rumors suggested Carroll was interested in a reunion with an old Seattle Seahawks quarterback that he used to coach: Russell Wilson.
Well, that rumor turned out to be half-true. In a stunning trade just days before the opening of free agency on March 10, the Raiders have found the leading man for Carroll’s offense in Las Vegas.
Las Vegas Raiders Land Geno Smith in Blockbuster Trade With Seattle
As reported by NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the Raiders are adding Geno Smith to their quarterback room in 2025, where he will serve as the unquestioned starter ahead of Aidan O’Connell.
Blockbuster: The #Seahawks are trading two-time Pro Bowl QB Geno Smith to the #Raiders for a 2025 third-round pick, sources tell The Insiders.
It’s a reunion for Pete Carroll and Smith, who also is expected to get a new contract. And Seattle will need a new QB. pic.twitter.com/K5X0ZlvX66
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 7, 2025
Earlier in the week, Las Vegas released Gardner Minshew II, signaling to any doubters that they planned to add some talent at the game’s most important position this offseason.
However, the team is equipped with the No. 6 overall pick in the upcoming 2025 NFL Draft. In a class with only two premier quarterback prospects — Shedeur Sanders from Colorado and Cam Ward from Miami (FL) — it was difficult to see how the team would address its sizable need at QB without mortgaging the future in a blockbuster trade.
Luckily, they were able to do so for the cost of only a third-round pick, and Smith, who played for Carroll in Seattle from 2020-23 and earned Pro Bowl nods in each of the latter two campaigns, should thrive in a coach’s system that he knows well.
Smith finished 15th in PFSN’s QB+ rankings in 2024, ending the campaign with a 77.6 QB+ grade. While far from jaw-dropping, that was a much better finish than both O’Connell (20th, 73.8 grade) and Minshew (35th, 60.6).
The 34-year-old signal caller saved his best until last for the 2024 season, leaving a four-touchdown performance in the minds of fans.
The Week 18 numbers were beautiful: 0.37 EPA/DB, 54.5% third-down conversion rate, 1.04 EPA/DB inside the opposing half, and 7.8 nYPA. He also had good numbers from both a clean pocket (0.45 EPA/DB) and when pressured (0.17 EPA/DB).
However, despite that, Smith’s overall numbers were underwhelming. He ranked 21st in EPA/DB (0.03), 20th on third downs (37.4%), and 14th in nYPA (6.9). Smith essentially matched his 2022 level of play, yet the Seahawks had to sit home and watch the playoffs rather than play in them.
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Smith isn’t an elite quarterback, and the Raiders have decidedly less talent on the roster than the Seahawks have had in recent seasons. Still, for the menial cost of a third-round pick (and a $25 million cap hit), he can help Carroll usher in a new era of Las Vegas football.
Meanwhile, the Seahawks’ tumultuous week only got rougher with this news. Wide receiver Tyler Lockett was cut, fellow wideout DK Metcalf demanded a trade, and now Smith is gone. The offensive core in Seattle is all but decimated.
According to The Athletic’s Dianna Russini, the Seahawks do have a potential replacement for Smith in mind.
Trade!
The Las Vegas Raiders have traded with the Seattle Seahawks for quarterback Geno Smith, per sources.The Seattle Seahawks are now targeting Sam Darnold.
— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) March 7, 2025
Sam Darnold, who finished 12th in PFSN’s QB rankings with a 79.0 grade, would represent a lateral move at quarterback for Seattle. He’s fresh off a campaign where he tossed 35 touchdowns and finished 10th in NFL MVP voting, but his track record outside of that is deeply unsatisfying.
However, in what has very quickly become a rebuild in Seattle, Darnold could provide some stability as the team evaluates the other pieces on its roster.
Raiders’ Outlook This Offseason
Under Carroll’s guidance, the Raiders were looking to become competitive as soon as possible, and Smith’s addition will help with that. However, the process does not stop now. Las Vegas has completely revitalized its team, but even more can be done.
With the No. 6 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, the Raiders suddenly have flexibility. Las Vegas finished 29th in PFSN’s Offense+ metric and could look to upgrade there. A No. 1 pass catcher like Tetairoa McMillan could be an option, or maybe an addition could be made on the offensive line (which finished 22nd in PFSN’s OL+ metric).
Meanwhile, PFSN’s Defense+ metric gave the Raiders a grade of 70.9, 21st in the NFL, so there’s room for improvement there as well. In the latest 2025 NFL Mock Draft on PFSN written by Reese Decker, the team selected Abdul Carter, which would be transformative alongside the recently re-signed Maxx Crosby.
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Arguably the most exciting option could be adding Ashton Jeanty to boost a run game that was among the worst in recent history. Additions will need to be made in the backfield, and if it’s not done in the draft with a pick like Jeanty or offensive coordinator Chip Kelly’s former backs Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson, they could sign a free agent like J.K. Dobbins, Jordan Mason (RFA), or Najee Harris.
It’s hard to tell how competitive Las Vegas can be in 2025 in a division with the Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Chargers, and Denver Broncos, but with a new identity — and presumably plenty of new pieces — the silver and black are set to enter a new era under Carroll and Smith’s leadership.