Raiders Trade for Geno Smith, Seahawks Eye Sam Darnold as Possible Replacement
In a significant move amid an already eventful offseason, the Seattle Seahawks are trading quarterback Geno Smith to the Las Vegas Raiders in exchange for a third-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. According to the NFL Network, the pick is No. 92 overall. The trade is expected to be finalized on Monday as the NFL’s free agency period opens.
The decision to move Smith reportedly followed a breakdown in contract negotiations. Smith, entering the final year of a three-year contract, was set to earn $31 million in 2025, a figure that included performance bonuses. The deal carried a hefty $44.5 million cap hit for the following season—an amount Seattle had hoped to reduce. As part of the trade, the Raiders have agreed to absorb the entire $31 million owed to Smith this season. A $16 million roster bonus due on March 17 had been seen as a likely deadline for a trade to get done.
Smith now reunites with former Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll, who took over in Las Vegas earlier this year. The move also follows a busy week in Seattle, with the release of veteran wideout Tyler Lockett and news that star receiver DK Metcalf has requested a trade.
Despite the transaction, both Seahawks GM John Schneider and new head coach Mike Macdonald had previously expressed strong support for Smith as their starter during interviews at the NFL Combine. Macdonald, in particular, had called Smith “a heck of a quarterback” and reiterated that the team was eager to work with him.
Smith, who will turn 35 in October, took over as Seattle’s starting QB in 2022 after the trade of Russell Wilson. Over his three seasons, Smith climbed into the franchise’s top five all-time in passing stats. In 2024, he recorded 4,320 passing yards, 407 completions, and a 70.4% completion rate—among the best in the NFL that year. However, he also threw 15 interceptions, some of which proved costly in a season where Seattle narrowly missed the playoffs with a 10-7 record, leading to a shake-up in the offensive coaching staff.
Though the Seahawks didn’t publicly place blame on Smith, his age and desire for a high-end quarterback contract—reportedly in the $40 million-per-year range—may have led Seattle to explore other options.
Now, the team appears to be targeting free-agent quarterback Sam Darnold as a possible successor. Darnold, 28 in June, had a breakout year with the Minnesota Vikings in 2024, throwing for 4,319 yards, 35 touchdowns, and only 12 interceptions. With rookie J.J. McCarthy set to take over in Minnesota, Darnold will be available, and Seattle is rumored to be seriously interested. Darnold previously worked with new Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak during his time in Seattle in 2023.
Seattle also has Sam Howell on the roster, but he saw limited action in 2024.
With Smith now headed to Las Vegas, the Seahawks are preparing for a new era under center in 2025.
Leave a Reply