After months of Seahawks general manager John Schneider continuously reiterating that Geno Smith was still his starting quarterback, Seattle ended up trading the two-time Pro Bowler after all. The Seahawks sent Smith to the Raiders for a third round pick, reuniting him with Pete Carroll, the head coach who helped revitalize his career.
And even though the trade may have been a shock to Smith, it's actually best for him. While it may seem as if the move from Seattle to Las Vegas shifts Smith from one rebuild to another, the vibes around the two franchises are very different this offseason.
It's possible the Seahawks could replace Smith with a younger recent success story in Sam Darnold. But even if they do and he's able to pick up where he left off last season, Seattle will also likely be without their top target. The Smith trade came days after DK Metcalf was granted permission to talk to other teams, signaling a trade is on the horizon.
Despite posting a 10-7 record in 2024, the Seahawks missed the playoffs for the second consecutive season and now appear far from a return to the postseason.
In contrast, Carroll, 73, who has already lived a football life most coaches would be jealous of, appears to be on a mission to revitalize the once-proud Raiders franchise. In fact, Carroll's hiring has offered some of Las Vegas' most veteran players a newfound belief. This was most evident when Maxx Crosby re-signed, a three-year, $106.5 million deal that signals the investment Vegas is willing to make.
The last time the Raiders made the playoffs was the 2021 season when they were still calling Oakland home. But that was also when Derek Carr was still carrying the torch for the Silver and Black. And the Raiders' main issue, granted there have been many others as well, since that time is they have been unable to find even serviceable quarterback play.
Smith is coming off a season in which he threw for 4,320 yards and scored 23 total touchdowns while completing 70.4% of his passes. He's surpassed 4,000 passing yards twice in the last three years, made two Pro Bowls and was named the 2022 NFL Comeback Player of the Year. It's safe to say the Raiders wish they had Smith under center.
It's unlikely the partnership of Carroll and Smith will be able to turn the Raiders completely around in one year. However, the atmosphere around Las Vegas suggests they are actually headed in the right direction, something Seahawks fans aren't feeling about their team right now.
At 34, Smith is far from finished. Seattle may learn to regret writing Smith off too soon.
