The Las Vegas Raiders have traded for Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith, reuniting him with coach Pete Carroll, sources advised ESPN’s Adam Schefter and Jeremy Fowler on Friday.
Las Vegas gave up a 2025 third-round choose (92nd total) for Smith, sources stated. The deal ends his six-year stint in Seattle, the place he revived his profession and have become a two-time Professional Bowl choice.
Smith has one yr and $31 million left on his contract. The Raiders are taking over all $31 million, a supply advised ESPN’s Brady Henderson. The Seahawks will save that $31 million in money and cap area whereas taking over $13.5 million in lifeless cash.
In 2024, Smith, 34, accomplished 70.4% of his passes whereas throwing for 4,320 yards with 21 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. He helped the Seahawks end 10-7, however they did not make the playoffs of their first season beneath coach Mike Macdonald.
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Whereas beginning all 17 video games, Smith broke his franchise document for passing yards and completion charge, carrying an offense with an overmatched line and no constant run recreation. He led 4 game-winning drives, giving him 9 over the previous two seasons to tie Patrick Mahomes for essentially the most within the NFL in that span.
Smith’s final game-winning drive got here within the Seahawks’ Week 18 victory over the Los Angeles Rams.
However Smith’s 15 interceptions have been the third most within the NFL. 4 of his interceptions got here within the pink zone (most within the NFL). His 21 landing passes tied for thirteenth, and his QBR of 53.8 (twenty first) was his lowest in three seasons as Seattle’s full-time starter. He was sacked 50 instances (third most).
“Geno’s our quarterback,” Macdonald stated final month, considered one of a number of instances he publicly endorsed the signal-caller for the reason that finish of final season. “I do not perceive the dialog. It is fairly apparent this man is a heck of a quarterback. He is our quarterback. We love him. Cannot wait to go to work with him.”
Smith ranks twenty first in Whole QBR over the previous two seasons. He had the league’s seventh-best QBR in 2022, when he made the Professional Bowl, was named Related Press Comeback Participant of the Yr and led the Seahawks to a wild-card berth after taking up as starter within the wake of the Russell Wilson commerce.
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The Seahawks re-signed Smith to a three-year, $75 million contract in March 2023. That deal gave him the chance to make a further $30 million through contract escalators. Smith hit $6 million of these escalators along with his efficiency final season. That $6 million was added to the $10 million roster bonus Smith is about to earn March 16.
Smith unsuccessfully argued for a brand new deal final offseason after seeing a number of quarterbacks money in with big-money extensions, and he was upset that the Seahawks wouldn’t give him one, sources stated. It was a nonstarter for the group given its coverage of not renegotiating contracts with multiple season left.
The $25 million common of Smith’s final deal ranked nineteenth amongst quarterbacks (it was twentieth earlier than the New York Giants launched Daniel Jones) and final amongst full-time starters not on their rookie contract.
The Seahawks have been working to increase Smith’s contract over the previous week, however when progress was not being made, the Raiders stepped in and confirmed curiosity in buying him. With the Seahawks struggling to get a brand new deal accomplished, they opted for a third-round choose as a substitute.
Information of Smith’s commerce to the Raiders comes two days after Professional Bowl large receiver DK Metcalf requested to be dealt from Seattle. The Seahawks additionally launched one other star receiver, Tyler Lockett, earlier this week together with 4 veteran gamers. The Raiders are among the many groups the Seahawks have talked to a couple of potential Metcalf commerce, in keeping with a supply.
The commerce, which might’t grow to be official till the brand new league yr begins Wednesday, leaves the Seahawks with Sam Howell and Jaren Corridor at quarterback. The staff is predicted to pursue a veteran quarterback when free company begins.
After turning into Raiders coach in February, Carroll stated he needs to begin successful instantly. In the course of the NFL scouting mix, Carroll stated the staff’s “win now” method ought to issue into each determination the staff makes in shaping the roster for the 2025 season.
“We try to take it so far as we are able to as quickly as we probably can,” stated Carroll, 73. “I am not in search of a grace interval. … I do not assume that means in any respect.”
Carroll has lengthy had an affinity for Smith, at one level in 2023 calling him “considered one of my all-time favourite guys.”
Smith is predicted to be the seventh Raiders quarterback to begin in a recreation for the reason that staff moved on from Derek Carr after the 2022 season.
In the course of the mix, Raiders common supervisor John Spytek stated the staff would discover each avenue in including a quarterback after Las Vegas completed 4-13 beneath Gardner Minshew, Aidan O’Connell and Desmond Ridder, who began one recreation. Minshew is predicted to be launched initially of the brand new league yr, a supply advised ESPN.
Carroll and Spytek talked about O’Connell and Carter Bradley would have an opportunity to compete for the job. On the similar time, Spytek stated, “We have to win extra video games too.”
Although Smith is an improve from the Raiders’ earlier starters, they’ve loads of work to do to encompass their new quarterback with offensive expertise. Las Vegas has gamers to work with similar to Brock Bowers, who led all tight ends in receiving yards (1,194) throughout his rookie marketing campaign. Broad receiver Jakobi Meyers recorded his first profession 1,000-yard season after three straight years with a minimum of 800.
ESPN’s Brady Henderson contributed to this report.
