Rumored to be still looking into trades after the Matthew Stafford push failed, the Raiders have found a solution. Pete Carroll will be reuniting with a QB — just not via free agency.
Rather than a Russell Wilson signing, the Raiders are trading for Geno Smith, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero reports. The Raiders will send the Seahawks a 2025 third-rounder for Smith, Seattle’s former Wilson backup-turned-three-year starter. Suddenly, it is the Seahawks who need a quarterback.
[RELATED: Seahawks Want D.K. Metcalf Trade Done By Draft]
While we mentioned Smith as a prospective solution minutes ago, it is still fairly stunning the Seahawks are parting with a proven starter. One season remains on Smith’s three-year, $75MM contract. This trade will almost definitely bring a Smith extension, as the Raiders were on the cusp of giving Stafford a monster guarantee package.
Smith is not in Stafford’s skill class, but he is two years younger. Going into his age-35 season, Smith likely has secured another starter year without the threat of an immediate QB heir apparent coming in. Indeed, The Athletic’s Dianna Russini reports Smith is likely to land a new deal in Vegas; he has been seeking a contract between $40-$45MM per year. The Seahawks came in at around $35MM per year, SI.com’s Albert Breer tweets. Smith entered the offseason as the NFL’s 19th-highest-paid QB, with no one really around his $25MM AAV.
The 2022 Comeback Player of the Year, Smith is due a $14.8MM base salary in 2025. That money is not guaranteed, but again, it would be quite surprising if the 12th-year veteran were still attached to that deal by Week 1. This represents a major swing by a Raiders team that has shuffled through QBs since benching Derek Carr in December 2022. Smith is one year older than Carr, but he has displayed durability since replacing Wilson in Seattle.
Smith stunned the football-following world by being far more than a mediocre Wilson successor, rising from longtime backup — a player who had drawn low-end salaries from the Seahawks for four years — to the NFL’s completion percentage leader. Smith broke Wilson’s single-season Seahawks passing yardage record in 2022, also throwing 30 TD passes, and then re-broke it this past season. He finished with 4,320 passing yards last season, though the 15 interceptions brought concerns for the Seahawks, who had passed on acquiring an heir apparent for multiple offseasons. Smith ranked just 21st in QBR last season, after coming in at seventh (2022) and 14th (2023) in his other Seattle starter years.
Talks had begun between Smith and the Seahawks, but NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport indicates the sides did not make much progress. This will end a six-season partnership, one that brought three winning seasons — including a 10-7 2024 season — and a playoff berth with Smith at the wheel. The Seahawks are now exploring a Sam Darnold addition, providing a tremendous shakeup to the QB market days before free agency. Smith had pushed for an extension in 2024, but the Seahawks did not greenlight one.
Seattle’s shocking Smith trade comes after John Schneider had said there was no doubt the QB would remain at the controls in 2025. The deal also comes two days after D.K. Metcalf requested a trade. The Seahawks, who cut Tyler Lockett minutes before the Metcalf news surfaced, are making wholesale changes after back-to-back playoff misses. Seattle had not previously missed two straight postseasons since the 2008-09 seasons — before Carroll and Schneider arrived.
Metcalf is believed to be targeting a deal to a warmer-weather team, with Russini indicating during a radio interview with Mike Golic and Mike Golic Jr. that the standout receiver also wants more QB stability. Metcalf has since seen the Seahawks deal a proven starter, as the team joins a handful of clubs in pursuit of a free agent. Effectively, the Raiders and Seahawks have swapped places. This is a long time coming for the Raiders, who have come off back-to-back seasons featuring struggles staffing the position.
The Raiders cut Carr and signed Jimmy Garoppolo. After Garoppolo became a post-June 1 release — following another injury-plagued season that involved a midyear benching — the team gave Gardner Minshew a two-year, $25MM deal. Also benched, Minshew sustained a season-ending injury and will follow Garoppolo in being a post-June 1 cut. Aidan O’Connell remains on the roster, but he no longer has a realistic path to the starting job. This will at least buy the Raiders time, as they could now — barring a renewed Cam Ward trade-up effort — wait for a better offseason to strike. This has widely been viewed as an unspectacular QB draft class.
Las Vegas picked up an extra third-rounder via the Davante Adams trade, closing the book on the wide receiver’s two-plus years with the team. The Raiders carried more than $80MM in cap space entering Friday; some of that figures to go to Smith’s extension, but the team will have necessary funds to improve around him, after a 4-13 season cost Antonio Pierce and Tom Telesco their jobs. In stepped Tom Brady, who has been a central presence in the Raiders’ QB pursuit.
Carroll is on a three-year contract, coming in as a hopeful culture-resetting presence after tumult consumed the Raiders following Jon Gruden‘s forced resignation. Carroll had stumped for Smith during the months between the Wilson blockbuster and the 2022 season, and Smith beat trade pickup Drew Lock for the starting job. He was unchallenged for the position in 2023 and ’24, but Mike Macdonald and new OC Klint Kubiak will be working with a new passer in 2025. Kubiak had said Smith was a “huge draw” to bring him to Seattle; Smith will now get to work in Chip Kelly‘s offense.
lol
Steelers rode a great defense and ok QB to two super bowls in 2005 and 2008.
Ben Roethlisberger was ok? Mmmkay
Ben was stellar. Lol the hardest qb to sack in pocket ever. Could be a famer.
That OK quarterback you’re talking about is the first ballot Hall of Famer
I could be wrong but I think he means the seasons they won the SB. Ben wasn’t amazing during the regular season during those SB winning seasons. I agree he’s a HOF QB and I’ve always been a fan but look at his SB winning regular season stats. Nothing amazing.
No All pros and 6 pro bowls in 17 years ain’t great.
Pouncey 4 all pros and 9 pro bowls. Heyward 4 all pros and 7 pro bowls. Antonio Brown 4 all pros and 7 pro bowl.
Ben was on great teams. Ben wasn’t great. He was big and good.
He will probably be a Hall of Famer, but it won’t be on a first ballot.
His personal issues alone will cause a bunch of voters to wait a year.
Makes sense. Very familiar with Carrolls system.
Wonder if this means the Sam Howell era in Seattle will begin. And wonder if this is why DK wants out.
Howell ain’t it, if Seattle doesn’t want to rebuild will they sign Rodgers or Cousins??
Sam Howell is as good as toast since he hasn’t proved anything with his chances that he’s gotten
lol Seahawks are drafting a QB either way you slice the pie
Yep trade Geno or not I’m sure QB was in draft plans.
Much like my drunk uncle’s farts after he binges on Taco Bell and Bud Light, it smells like a Rodgers-Adams-Lazard reunion in Seattle.
Lmao there’s no way Seattle goes for Rodgers
Instant upgrade for Raiders. Perhaps Seattle drafts Dart.
Upgrade over what? Mediocre quarterback to a mediocre franchise.
Dart could be the next bo nix but more athletic
Dart is amazing. Funny you say Bo nix cuz this guy has the pedigree of a broncos flop. But all joking aside. If devoloped. This guy could be love esk.
Funny you say you think nix will be a flop, yet praise Jordan love. Comical.
No no no. Bo nix was on my call list. I’m saying dart has the pedigree of the broncos qb slump. Like Brock lobster. lol and Paxton lynch just to name a few on a long list. But no. Excluded present company. I’m not singing loves tune. But he played well enough that everyone else was.
‘Hawks are going to look different next offseason.
We were never making the Super Bowl with Geno
Hawks are going after Darnold. Personally not a fan of Geno or Darnold but if I was forced to take one it’d be Geno.
Since he knows team, offense etc. Seems like less of risk but I feel team has gone as far as it can with Geno. Time to go another route.
My friend your franchise is decades away
Geno is a great person. Seahawks seemed to have given up on a superbowl when they paid him. Now atleast. We have hope. Hope is better than knowing. lol. If we go 4-13. Atleast we had a try. Rather than punt with Geno. Haha! now I need to work on my qb profile.
Pete ruining the Raiders already
Raiders could become another Aaron Rodgers and the jets since what if geno and every other former Seahawk does horrible in Vegas
Well then they probably lose. You can ask “what if?” about any transaction.
I don’t see how. Rodgers was literally the Packers. Geno has never been the Seahawks. Rodgers is a multiple time MVP winner with a Superbowl to his name who’s made the careers of multiple WRs.
He’s one of the all time leaders in multiple passing categories and a first ballot HOFer.
Nobody is signing or trading for guys to keep Geno happy like they would for Rodgers.
It’s not about geno, it’s all about Pete Carroll
Getting the band back together with these Seattle pieces
Geno’s most likely a bridge QB on a one-year contract, though I wouldn’t be surprised to see them extend a year or two (with void options).
Exactly how I see it. He’s gonna be 35 so he’s obviously not the long term plan at QB for them.
lol. These guys must have a chip with Seattle. They did no wrong. Seattle is neutral. lol
Feel bad for JSN and DK (if he’s still there).
I love this because now we can draft a quarterback who can be better than geno that is on a cheap contract
We can use these savings for the offensive line and for DK’s replacement (and maybe solve the linebackers issue)
Could we draft Jackson dart? Or is it possible to trade up for shedeur?
I’m sure they were already looking at Dart or someone else in 2nd or 3rd round. Still a plan I bet
Zero chance Dart makes it to 3rd let alone 2nd round. Simple math, he’s the 2/3 best QB in the draft and there about 8-10 teams that need a long-term QB.
Go for darr
I totally agree!
Sad we don’t want Sanders. I have not been a Geno fan since day I have been very critical of him. From his childish antics to his attitude towards players and fans. We know what we get with Geno. Besides the bad attitude we get 10 int in the red zone. What is worse is they were terrible decisions with players open and he tries to put the ball between 3 defenders. We also get a playoff spots every once in awhile.
Of the WBs out there I would look at Cousins. Give him Bet min on a prove it deal. He will never see the rest of his contract but he can use this season to get back to his best and sign a big contract at another team. Maybe have a team option for a few years after at a decent price for both.
Signing cousins would be waiving the white flag for this season
The blueprint would be drafting an NFL ready starter and competing for as long as he is cheap (a la Jalen hurts or Jayden Daniels etc etc)
All of that things you said of Geno are doubly true of Sanders, and Geno is a legitimate dual threat QB and playmaker unlike Sanders who is just a QB and has a ways to go as a passer.
When Geno is on, he can put a team on his back. He definitely forces throws but he can also throw some absolute darts, and he’s only on a $25 million a year contract. That’s incredibly affordable for a starting QB these days.
34 year old geno smith dual threat???
Dual threat is Lamar, Allen, Daniels, young Russell Wilson
Geno is athletic but legs were not his game
Uhh yeah they absolutely were. He was very bit the runner everybody in your list is but Lamar.
Again, a lot of you clearly didn’t watch him in college.
Oh no, Geno, too bad we couldn’t get a 2nd round in return out of you. It could have been possible if you threw about 10 interceptions less last season.
Might have made the playoffs if that had happened… ;o)
Geno thought he was Brett favre trying to make these insane throws
Most of the time they were incompletions I wouldn’t have been shocked if he threw 30 interceptions
This makes no sense for Seattle. A 3rd pick for a proven QB1 with no replacement plan? Good get for the Raiders.
Geno has only 1 year left on contract. Looking for a new contract with bigger bucks. Age is concern and Hawks have got about as far as can with him.it is a big risk though. If they sign a veteran or drafts one and doesn’t work.
It makes perfect sense for Seattle. Geno would keep them stuck in the middle, where you never want to be. Now they get to look for an actual long term answer at QB and get a draft pick in return
I could’ve seen us release geno I was surprised we didn’t get like a 6th round pick
3rd round is pretty good!
I actually consider this a great trade for Seattle, and possibly a good trade for the Raiders. Howell may be good as a bridge, or he may finally cut down on his own risky decisions with a more stable franchise. If not, which is what we probably expect, Seattle is in good position to start looking for a replacement long term.
The Seahawks really have a lot of options. Trading Geno to Vegas takes them out of the running for a QB, which leaves Rodgers, Cousins, or Darnold with fewer options to play offers against. Seattle has a better long term structure than New York (who will likely see its coach/GM combination fired before 2026), Cleveland (whose albatross Watson contract and Garrett impasse might see its duo kicked to the curb, even with management’s hand in creating that scenario), or Tennessee (whose owner fires employees on a whim). It’s an attractive opportunity in comparison to those jobs, and as these veterans’ options diminish, it’ll be one to look to.
If they don’t sign a vet, they could roll with Howell and play for next year’s draft. As I said earlier, there’s always the chance that Howell has his own resurgence, which would be great for the Seahawks. If he doesn’t, well, he won’t take them out of the running for a decent pick. The Seahawks’ roster isn’t awful, but it’s lost a couple of pieces and needed reinforcement at others before then. If Howell is anything other than exceptional, they probably will still need offensive reinforcements. This draft could provide one or two for the next QB, which in this scenario wouldn’t be until 2026’s draft.
Their last option, of course, is to pull the trigger on a QB this year. I don’t personally like that option, but I also think that Geno would have been retained if that was going to be the move. Seattle also picks pretty late to be one of the teams desperately taking Sanders or Ward highly, and the next tier options realistically won’t give you much greater chance of a high ceiling than Howell already does.
To me, I see Seattle waiting until the next draft to add a QB. There are a few available free agents that could be available for a short run like that. Given that Darnold wants a bigger deal, and probably a longer term deal than a two year, I think that that narrows the options more distinctly to Rodgers and Cousins. Rodgers seems in better position to make that happen, but the Seahawks’ decision with Metcalf might also play a big factor in that.
Now, after all that, what if we woke up tomorrow to see that Pete Carroll wasn’t the reunion that Russell Wilson was looking for?
Good move for the Raiders. They have a QB now in the event the draft board doesn’t go their way.
Having a QB like Geno isn’t always a good thing. His numbers are hollow. His attitude is bad and acts like a spoiled brat. He has a high opinion of himself. Now those are not always bad in a QB. They need to be confident. But he is something else.
Having a QB like Geno is better than anything else they would’ve gotten
His whole attitude started the night of the draft he was in, his agent kept telling him he was a top ten pick in the first round and when he didn’t get drafted, he had an absolute melt down and then went to the J-E-T-S in the 2nd round and he has had a pissy attitude ever since.
Some of his lowlights starting with the draft.
“Smith was in attendance for the first round of the draft as many analysts and scouts expected him to be taken that night. However, Smith was not selected, and EJ Manuel was the lone quarterback taken in the first round. Smith declined to be interviewed by ESPN afterwards and originally planned to return home but later decided to attend the second day of the draft. Several league executives alleged Smith did not handle the draft process in a professional manner, which caused him to fall out of the first round, while analysts pointed to his late season decline as a senior at West Virginia, which exposed his flaws, as the primary reason. The following day, the Jets expressed interest in trading up in the second round to select Smith but could not consummate a trade. Despite this, Smith remained available and the Jets selected him with the 39th overall pick. Following the selection, General manager John Idzik stated that Smith would compete with incumbent Mark Sanchez in training camp to determine the starting quarterback.
Smith fired his agency, Select Sports Group, upon the completion of the draft and sought new representation. He signed with Roc Nation Sports on May 22, 2013, with Kimberley Miale serving as his representative. Smith worked out in his home state of Florida during the offseason, prompting questions as to whether or not he had spurned Sanchez by not attending Sanchez’s Jets West summer camp in California. Smith and Sanchez dismissed this notion with Sanchez saying that it was “no big deal.”
“During a Week 4 24–17 loss to the Lions, Smith threw for 209 yards with an interception and lost fumble. On October 3, 2014, he was fined $12,000 for yelling profanity at fans while walking to the locker room during halftime in Week 4. Despite this incident, Smith was allowed to start in the next game against the San Diego Chargers, in which he threw for only 27 yards with an interception and was benched for the second half in favor of Michael Vick as the Jets were shut out on the road 31–0.
Prior to the Week 5 game, Smith and a few of his teammates missed a team meeting, having gone to a movie theater in San Diego, unaware of the three-hour time difference between the Eastern and Pacific Time Zones.”
“On August 11, 2015, Smith was involved in an altercation with defensive end IK Enemkpali in the locker room over an alleged $600 unpaid debt. Smith suffered a fractured jaw after Enemkpali punched him in the face. Smith was ruled out for 6–10 weeks, and Enemkpali was released by the Jets shortly thereafter. Two days later, Smith underwent surgery on his fractured jaw. Ryan Fitzpatrick led the team to a 2–0 record while Smith was injured, so new head coach Todd Bowles decided to continue starting Fitzpatrick, even with Smith being healthy.”
“On November 28, 2017, the Giants named Smith the starter for the upcoming game against the Raiders, which ended Manning’s 210-game starting streak with the Giants. The start made Smith the first black quarterback to start for the Giants and the first quarterback to start for both the Giants and the Jets; it also meant every NFL team had started a black player at quarterback, with the Giants being the last team to do so. Making his first start with the Giants, Smith threw for 212 yards and a touchdown but had two first-half fumbles within the Raiders’ 30 yard line and the Giants lost by a score of 17–24 On December 5, Manning was renamed the starter.
Needless to say, he has had a strange journey in the NFL.
You realize the only thing that actually says is that he was completely mishandled by the Jets for his entire time there, right?
They drafted a known PROJECT QB and never actually tried to develop him or gave him the rope and consistent game time as the starter for him to reach his potential or develop into something. He never got that until he got to Seattle and was finally part of a functional organization with a head coach who was all about stability and cohesion.
Geno was a run and gun QB from the college football program that popularized the wildcat formation and revolutionized the game. He threw something like 45 touchdowns his senior year in addition to his performances as a runner.
If he was coming out this year he’d easily be a first round pick. He’s that talented.
I feel like a lot of you didn’t actually watch football back then or really pay attention enough to understand the huge differences between the game then and the game now. Guys like Geno weren’t seen for the unique talents that they are or allowed to run the read option offense that so many teams run right now. Instead they were treated as inferior due to their not being true pocket passers.
Pat White, Michael Robinson, Troy Smith, Darryl Clark, and Tyrod Taylor are other great examples. All of these guys could flat out ball and had tremendous upside as passers in addition to being talented runners, and Tyrod is the only one who was ever given a real chance to be a QB out of any of them (and that was years into his career.
I miss tyrod with the bills
I still think if he never gets hurt in Cleveland, both that team and his career would’ve been very different.
That team was built to be explosive on offense and had talented young defensive players. Tyrod’s accuracy and running ability might’ve had them in the playoffs considering the way they’d have broken opposing defenses.
Great move for the Raiders. Geno isn’t elite or anything, but in a tough offseason for quarterbacks they just got a solid starter for a third round pick when they had absolutely nothing. They even had an extra third rounder.
Geno is no Tier 1 QB but a high Tier 2. Some pieces around him and Raiders will improve.
I want to believe, but a 21/15 TD/Int is awful.
Joe 10 of those int were in the red zone. We ended up losing most of those games by less than a TD. Was frustrating watching him panic and do really stupid things. Like trying to force a ball into a WR that is covered by 3 players and have another not too far away uncovered.
With Pete they’ll be back to running the ball again.
I like this for both teams.
♫ I like bread and butter
I like toast and jam
That’s what my baby feeds me
Cuz I’m her lovin man ♫
You really old.
LOL
I remember years ago when Geno Smith played for the J-E-T-S, he showed up late for a game against the Chargers in San Diego and his excuse was that his watch was still on New York time which I found hilarious because New York is three hours later than San Diego so the 1pm game in San Diego would be 4pm in New York and if he really was on East Coast time then 1 o’clock there would have been 10am Pacific Coast time…all I know is that I hope he is able to tell time in Las Vegas because it’s the city that has NO clocks in casinos.
G-E-N-O still S-U-C-K-S
Wasn’t Geno the guy who got a 6 on his Wonderlic?
This isn’t the answer Raiders – but I know options are tight.
Still – I think they are better than with Geno than with the collection they’ve had.
Oh snap this caught me off guard lmao
Seattle likely didn’t wanna resign Smith so shipping him off for a pick. Not sure if Darnold is a huge upgrade if they get him but I see the reasoning behind it.
Seattle, may we interest you in a slightly used Derek Carr as a bridge QB?
On the bright side, as a Raiders fan, this was a draft looking a mistake. Costly trade-up for Ward/Sanders, or hoping that Dart slips to the 2nd. I’m not a Milroe fan, but two years of him sitting behind Smith?
still the fourth best team in the division
The question now is.. Does Seattle Draft Dart at #18? Trade down, collect more picks and then draft him?
I think every single team is currently in a phase of trying to amass draft picks for next year
Stud QBs worth just 3rd rd picks now
Dayum
LOL, LMAO even.
Weird decision. Carroll knows Smith’s limitations. I’d rather keep the draft capital and see what the tide brings in.
The Raiders are aiming for mediocrity. Mediocrity would be an improvement, but why bother? 7-9 with few prospects of improvement is not very exciting.
We always want to skip steps in Raider Land and it always leads back to a flat circle
Mediocrity is a fine goal in the interim in theory, and so is Geno, the problem is there is just never anything behind the curtain after that
And so …. Lucy again pulls the football out from under poor Chuck
I think this might be an overreaction lol QB class this draft is seemingly thin, and all they moved was a 3rd. They might still go grab one anyways and have them sit behind Geno so theirs no rush to start them. Brady is big on developing QBs and not rushing them so this is likely the plan. Seems the opposite of skipping steps
Trade condition is that the only foods to be served to the team members is:
JENOS !!
Good move for the Raiders. They still need to draft a guy ala Penix with Cousins a year ago.
This will be refreshing for Seattle and work out horribly for Vegas. All based on Geno Smith. He’s never been anything other than average and he is old by football standards.
So that’s why DK’s got his hitchhiking thumb on.
Geno turned his career around but he’s still not a franchise QB and is never leading a team anywhere.
Super Bowl 2025.
Too bad we couldn’t get that TE add on for free. To boost potential draft trading.
I think that Taylor Heinicke Could be as good as Gino Smith with a good team around ! Seahawks just aren’t that team and they aren’t good enough to carry Howell!
3rd for starting QB just tanked DK value .. can’t ask for a 1st for a WR but trade your starting QB for a 3rd
You can actually because DK is good and Geno is not
With their line, Darnold or Howell wont last. See if Russ has anything left?
It seems that the Raiders are just hoping to make the playoffs. Is Geno good enough to take you the SB? The AFCC? Here’s the list (in no particular order) of AFC West QBs…
Nix
Hebert
Mahomes
Smith
How would you rank them by current level of talent and/or upside? Smith had a better supporting cast in Seattle and couldn’t take the ‘Hawks to the playoffs last year.