Geno Smith isn’t the only quarterback in the spotlight this offseason, but he’s definitely at the heart of the NFL’s big shakeups. The Green Bay Packers made waves landing Micah Parsons, but the Seattle Seahawks’ decision to deal Smith to the Las Vegas Raiders could tip the balance in the AFC.
Fans in both cities are eager to see what happens next: Was this the move Smith needed to revive his career, or will Seattle regret letting him go?
Why Did Seattle Seahawks Part Ways With Geno Smith?
Seattle wasn’t planning to move on from Geno Smith right away. With a year still on his contract, most people figured the Seahawks and Smith would work out a deal to keep things going. However, as the discussion of an extension dragged on with no real progress, it became clear neither side was ready to compromise.
Smith was hoping for more guaranteed cash and a bigger paycheck each year. Seattle wanted clauses to give them flexibility if things didn’t work out. That gap was just too big. General manager John Schneider offered a two-year contract worth $40 million per year, but Smith’s camp never responded. That kind of silence told the Seahawks all they needed to know.
That’s when the Raiders made their move. With Tom Brady stepping in as a minority owner and getting involved in the front office, Las Vegas sought a proven leader to reset their roster.
They didn’t stop there: the Raiders also reached out to Pete Carroll, Seattle’s longtime head coach, and brought him in to steer the ship in Vegas. Suddenly, the Raiders looked like a perfect fit for Smith.
The Raiders sent a 2025 third-round pick to Seattle to get Smith, picked up the remaining $31 million on his deal, and signed him up for two more years at $75 million. The new contract includes incentives that could push the value to $85.5 million and lock Smith in through 2027.
What Does Smith Bring To The Raiders?
Smith already knows Pete Carroll’s way of running things, having played for him in Seattle from 2020 through 2023. His two years as a starter, in 2022 and 2023, put him among the league’s most accurate passers– ranking fourth in completion percentage (67.4%), sixth in passing touchdowns (50), and sixth in passing yards (7,906).
On the other hand, he finished 17th in EPA per dropback (0.04) and 14th in success rate (47.5%).
Looking at the numbers, Smith was ranked 10th and 18th in PFSN’s QB+ metric as Seattle’s starter, finishing last season at 15th overall with a 77.6 QB+ grade. Compare that to Aidan O’Connell (20th, 73.8 grade) and Gardner Minshew II (35th, 60.6 grade); the difference is clear.
Even though Smith didn’t post jaw-dropping numbers last year, he’s still a big step up from the Raiders’ quarterback options in 2024. Since the Raiders traded Derek Carr, their QBs have averaged -0.05 EPA per dropback over the previous two campaigns, while Smith put up 0.03 in 2024.
With Brady calling the shots and Carroll running the sidelines, Las Vegas looks set up for Smith’s leadership and steady play to matter. If everything clicks, this new partnership could be one of the headline stories of the 2025 season.
