Tom Brady Stopped Raiders From Pursuing $100 Million QB

Before landing on Geno Smith, the Las Vegas Raiders were seemingly linked to every available quarterback. They even attempted to trade with the Los Angeles Rams for Matthew Stafford.

Out of the free agent options, Sam Darnold was considered the best. He had a big year with the Minnesota Vikings and led them to the playoffs.

He ended up signing with the Seattle Seahawks for just $33.5 million a year, which the Raiders would've easily been able to afford. However, Darnold was actually never a realistic option in Las Vegas.

According to The Athletic's Mike Silver, minority owner Tom Brady did not want the team to go after the former USC standout.

"The Seahawks’ pursuit of Darnold snuck up on many NFL observers and proceeded in rapid-fire fashion," Silver wrote. "While some believed the Las Vegas Raiders would try to sign Darnold, minority owner Tom Brady — a seven-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback whose opinion held great sway — was not in favor of that approach, according to a source familiar with the franchise’s internal discussions.

"Meanwhile, Smith, seeking a lucrative extension from the Seahawks, reacted coldly to the team’s initial offer. The Raiders, having recently hired former Seattle coach Pete Carroll, emerged as a potential trade partner."

It's not entirely clear why Brady was against Darnold, but he likely believes that his year with the Vikings was a bit of a fluke. Prior to 2024, Darnold was considered a draft bust who never threw for more than 19 touchdowns in a season. With the veteran replacing Smith on the Seahawks, it'll be easy to figure out which team made the right decision after this season.