Geno Smith Traded to the Las Vegas Raiders
The Seattle Seahawks have traded Quarterback Geno Smith to the Las Vegas Raiders for a 2025 third round pick. Let’s look at how the trade impacts both teams ahead of the 2025 NFL Draft and remainder of the offseason.
Las Vegas Raiders
The Raiders officially get their quarterback for next season and reunite Geno Smith with Pete Carroll and be taking on all 31 million of Geno’s one-year contract. The trade has a lot to like for fans of the silver and black. With Las Vegas holding the 6th overall pick in a weak QB class when compared to last year’s. Las Vegas having a QB room of Aiden O’Connell, Gardner Minshew and Desmond Ridder was unacceptable for a team with receiving talent like Brock Bowers, Jakobi Meyers and Tre Tucker. Entering the Draft Las Vegas was slated as a team to potentially reach on a Quarterback or trade up to select Cam Ward or Sheadure Sanders.
However, by acquiring Geno Smith, Las Vegas can focus on other aspects of the roster such as their defense, ranked 25th out of 32 teams and in need of more talent to support star pass rusher Max Crosby. This includes star prospects like Mason Graham, Jahdae Barron or Jalon Walker.
Alternatively, the raiders could continue to improve an offense of playmakers like Brock Bowers. This could include bringing in touted Running Back prospect Ashton Jeanty or premier Receiver prospect Tetairoa McMillan. At the same time, the Raiders may look to take lessons from the Lions and Eagles by building up the Oline with prospects like Will Campbell and Kelvin Banks Jr.
In the meantime the Silver and Black are hoping Super Bowl Champion head coach Pete Carroll can get the best out of the two time pro-bowler until a more permanent solution at Quarterback can be found.
Seattle Seahawks
Trading Geno Smith accomplished two things for the Seattle Seahawks. Firstly, it gets Seattle out of paying Geno’s $31 million salary and a likely contract extension. Secondly, it puts them in the position to go after free agent Quarterbacks like Sam Darnold, Justin Fields or Jameis Winston.
Darnold is the most sought after out of the free agent Quarterbacks for free agency after having a career season and leading the Minnesota Vikings to an unexpected double digit win season while making the pro bowl. Darnold however, played poorly in the playoffs flaming out against the Los Angeles Rams and was sacked 9 times. This worth mentioning as the Seahawks Offensive line has been a consistent concern for the Seahawks as Smith was sacked 46 times, 31 times and 50 times in his three years starting for the Seahawks.
If the Seahawks are unable to court Darnold they would effectively be entering a rebuild which could be all the more likely given the recent trade request from wide receiver DK Metcalf. In that case, the first priority for the Seahawks in the draft will be fixing their Offensive line. Seattle picks 18th in the draft and will have no shortage of prospects that could help bolster the trenches such as Tackles Josh Simmons, Armand Membou and Grey Zabel. That’s to say nothing of possible free agent acquisitions that could help the offensive line.
Seattle could also try to continue to build upon their receiving game to help out Jaxon Smith Njigba who just had a career year. Questions remain though as to whether Jaxson Smith Njigba can carry an entire receiving room. While no doubt a talented receiver, you can’t rely on just one guy to carry your offense and expect to make deep runs in the playoffs whether in the near or far future. Seattle could look at Wide Receiver talent like Luther Burden III or Emeka Egbuka. Tight End prospects Tyler Warren, Colston Loveland and Harold Fannin Jr.
Whether the Seahawks rebuild or simply make a change at Quarterback to hopefully get themselves over the hump, this trade is the one of the first big moves to be made in the NFL off season and many others like it will come.