The Las Vegas Raiders underwent a complete transformation this offseason, hiring new head coach Pete Carroll and general manager John Spytek after firing Antonio Pierce following a dismal 4-13 campaign. The Raiders then traded for quarterback Geno Smith from Seattle. Minority owner Tom Brady played a significant role in reshaping the franchise.
A recent report states that he prevented the team from signing a high-profile quarterback in free agency so they could acquire Smith instead.
Inside the Las Vegas Raiders’ QB Overhaul and Tom Brady’s Reported Role
The Raiders finished 4-13 last season under Antonio Pierce, with Gardner Minshew, Aidan O’Connell, and Desmond Ridder all starting at least one game. The trio combined for just 19 touchdown passes, and the team rushed for a league-low 1,357 yards.
Las Vegas’ offense was a major liability in 2024, prompting new head coach Pete Carroll and GM John Spytek to invest heavily on that side of the ball this offseason. The Raiders traded for Geno Smith and selected running back Ashton Jeanty with the sixth overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Smith is coming off three strong seasons with the Seattle Seahawks, including two under Carroll, and signed a two-year, $85.5 million extension after arriving. He’s now set to lead the Raiders, but a recent report says the team was interested in Sam Darnold before Brady intervened.
Veteran NFL reporter Michael Silver recently wrote a piece for The Athletic detailing Darnold’s journey from failed first-round pick to MVP candidate last season before landing in Seattle. Silver wrote:
“The Seahawks’ pursuit of Darnold snuck up on many NFL observers and proceeded in rapid-fire fashion.
“While some believed the Las Vegas Raiders would try to sign Darnold, minority owner Tom Brady — a seven-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback whose opinion held great sway — was not in favor of that approach, according to a source familiar with the franchise’s internal discussions.”
There was a Darnold Renaissance in 2024… then the last two games happened. Now he’s in Seattle. My @TheAthletic story…https://t.co/WWpzLg9pmN
— Michael Silver (@MikeSilver) June 19, 2025
He continued, “Meanwhile, Smith, seeking a lucrative extension from the Seahawks, reacted coldly to the team’s initial offer. The Raiders, having recently hired former Seattle coach Pete Carroll, emerged as a potential trade partner.”
Silver didn’t explain why Brady opposed signing Darnold, but the Raiders are set for 2025 with the reunited Carroll and Smith.
Brady’s Raiders Bet on Smith: Can They Outpace Sam Darnold’s Seahawks in 2025?
Brady’s Raiders did more than just add Smith and Jeanty. The team signed four new projected starters on defense and drafted two receivers who are expected to play key roles. Things are trending upward for Las Vegas, but the challenging AFC West remains a significant obstacle.
Darnold signed a three-year, $100.5 million deal with Seattle after posting the best season of his career in 2024. He led the Minnesota Vikings to a 14-3 record, throwing for 4,319 yards and 35 touchdowns. Minnesota nearly secured the NFC’s top seed, but two poor performances to close the season tarnished an otherwise stellar year.
The Seahawks are in transition after trading away Smith and DK Metcalf while signing Cooper Kupp. Seattle also hired Klint Kubiak as offensive coordinator. Kubiak and Darnold previously worked together for a year in San Francisco. The NFC West isn’t as competitive as its AFC counterpart, but Darnold still has much to prove.
Brady’s decision to pass on Darnold in favor of Smith could shape both franchises for years. He holds significant influence in Las Vegas, and only time will tell if this was the right call.
Geno Smith is pretty much just an average QB. Nothing great about him to me and I have watched him through the years. The Raiders might win a few more games than they did last year but not many more. They won 4 last year so maybe they win 7 or possibly 8 this year. Still won’t get you to the playoffs. The AFC west is a tough tough division. Every team made the playoffs last year except the Raiders and I don’t see that changing for a little while… Hopefully we have an improved running attack and we get Bowers and Mayer going early inside and the outside receivers get it done. We do have some young talent on the OL and some rookies that look promising. Our DL is suspect as are our corners and Safeties. Have to be missing Spill, Hobbs and Mohring. If we still had those guys we would be in a much better position. Wilkins looks again like a total loss for us AGAIN, this season so it would surprise me if we won more than 7-8 games this year and I think I am being genuinely generous with that prediction…