The Las Vegas Raiders made a big splash by trading for quarterback Geno Smith. The team gave up a third-round pick for the veteran signal-caller and presumably took itself out of the QB market in the 2025 NFL Draft.
New GM John Spytek has been very active this offseason, trading for Smith and signing Maxx Crosby to a massive extension, and ESPN’s Field Yates predicts he’ll make another splashy addition once the Raiders are on the clock.
ESPN Analyst Predicts Raiders Will Add Boise State Running Back
Las Vegas needs to revamp its offense after finishing No. 29 in PFSN’s Offense+ metric. The Raiders finished 30th in turnover rate and last in EPA per rush.
Defenses had no reason not to be aggressive against them, especially following the Davante Adams trade. That made life difficult for quarterbacks Aidan O’Connell, Desmond Ridder, and Gardner Minshew II all season.
Adding Smith is a step in the right direction. He was the 15th-best quarterback in PFSN’s QB+ metric after throwing for 21 touchdowns and a career high 4,320 yards. Smith also set a career high in completion percentage (70.4%), which was far better than any of the three Las Vegas starters.
The rushing attack is what needs the most improvement for 2025. Las Vegas was last in both total rushing yards (1,357) and yards per game (79.8) last season, with Alexander Mattison leading the team with just 420 yards and four touchdowns.
In his latest mock draft, Yates predicts Las Vegas will target its ground game in the draft after trading for Smith, and select Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty at No. 6.
Yates wrote, “With Geno Smith aboard as the starting quarterback, the Raiders can add the final member of my four-man top tier of prospects, which includes Hunter, Carter, Graham and Jeanty. A Pete Carroll-coached team is always going to make the running game a substantial priority.
“Jeanty shows elusiveness, power and vision as a runner, and he can chip in with the pass game. But there are also still some running back dominoes that need to fall in free agency, which could pivot this pick.”
Adding Jeanty would give the Raiders a dangerous weapon for Carroll’s offense, and would give Smith some help in his first year with the team. However, PFSN’s latest mock draft disagrees with Yates, having the Raiders take Michigan cornerback Will Johnson at No. 6, and Jeanty going to the Dallas Cowboys at No. 12.
Jeanty is a rare, explosive talent that doesn’t come around often. Adding Smith will change Las Vegas’ approach to the draft, and picking up Jeanty would help them compete in the tough AFC West.