Trading for your next franchise quarterback is always something that can be scary, especially if you're a team like the Las Vegas Raiders, who have failed miserably to replace Derek Carr, who has now retired after two bad years with the New Orleans Saints.
You have the two backups in Jimmy Garoppolo, who is now with the Los Angeles Rams, and Gardner Minshew, who is now with the Kansas City Chiefs, who just didn't work out. I'm not sure why the front office, two different ones, thought that those two could be the guys, but they did.
But this time feels different for the Raiders. Pete Carroll and John Spytek traded for Geno Smith, a guy who has actually been there, done that, as a starter for the Seahawks for the last few years. And, he has been one of the most talented QBs in the league since he became the starter a few years ago.
When you watch his tape, he is such an amazing passer and makes these insane throws that he makes look so easy. But, there is more to Smith than that.
"Yeah, I think leadership, to me, comes naturally, being the oldest child in my family," Smith said during OTAs. "So, always having to lead by example. I think for me when you talk about leadership, it really comes down to integrity. It's a big thing for me, it's what you do when no one's watching.
"And I try to be a passionate leader, but I also try to lead by example. So I'm not the biggest talker, instead, I'm the guy who's trying to be the hardest worker. And so, I just want to continue to lead by example and push myself, push my teammates to get better."
The Raiders really needed that at the quarterback position the last two years. Yes, Aidan O'Connell has shown signs of being a good leader, but you really have to go out of your way to be a good leader. An introvert has to become an extrovert when you are playing the most important position in sports.
And, Smith is a guy that you can tell, because of his experience with the league, both good and bad, that he can lead a group of men, especially on his side of the ball. And, as I already said, the Raiders need that, especially if they want to take the next step that they so desperately need to take to compete in the AFC West.
