Raiders trade for veteran quarterback, who reunites with Pete Carroll

The Raiders didn’t wait until the start of free agency to address their biggest need.

Veteran quarterback Geno Smith was acquired from the Seahawks on Friday for a third-round pick, reuniting the 34-year-old with new Raiders coach Pete Carroll, for whom he prospered in Seattle.

Smith spent five seasons with the Seahawks, the first two as Russell Wilson’s backup. The former West Virginia standout was selected by the Jets in the second round of the 2013 NFL draft, but lost his starting job after two seasons.

He seemed destined to spend the rest of his career as a backup, but got another chance when Wilson was traded to the Broncos in 2022. Smith surprisingly beat out Drew Lock for the starting job in training camp and led the Seahawks to a 9-8 record and playoff berth.

Smith started 52 games from 2022 to 2024 and posted a 28-24 record, including a 10-7 mark last season when he threw for 4,320 yards, 21 touchdowns and 15 interceptions while completing 70.4 percent of his passes.

“I love his story,” Carroll said during the 2023 season about Smith. “He’s taught me so much, and I admire him for the way he’s handled the competitive part of this thing. He’s taught us about belief in yourself and how powerful that is.”

New deal likely

Acquiring Smith does not preclude the Raiders from drafting a quarterback, but it lessens the need to act desperately. They can draft Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders if he falls to them at No. 6. If not, they can address another position of need and perhaps take a quarterback in the second or third round.

Smith is entering the final year of a three-year contract and is owed $14.8 million in salary and a $16 million roster bonus. His cap hit for 2025 is $31 million.

That’s all subject to change if, as expected, he and the Raiders agree to terms on a new deal.

Smith is reportedly looking for a contract in the $40 million per season range. Depending on how the contract is structured, the Raiders can satisfy Smith’s financial needs while also reducing his 2025 cap hit by paying a significant part of his salary down through a signing bonus.

The Raiders can now turn their attention to other roster needs in free agency, including re-signing some of their own pending free agents. They have to make decisions on 17 players before free agency begins Monday.

Perhaps more important, they don’t have to compete on the open market for the limited number of quarterback options. They discussed the possibility of adding Sam Darnold, Aaron Rodgers, Wilson and Justin Fields before deciding on Smith because of his familiarity with Carroll and three straight winning seasons in Seattle.

Among the Raiders’ needs are wide receiver, defensive line, cornerback and running back.

Quarterback room

Smith joins Aidan O’Connell, Gardner Minshew and Carter Bradley on the roster.

But the Raiders will try to trade Minshew before the start of the new league year oWednesday. He will be released if they can’t.

O’Connell is the backup for now. But the Raiders like the potential of Broncos backup quarterback and potential free agent Zach Wilson and might pursue him. The situation also could change if they draft a quarterback.

Contact Vincent Bonsignore at vbonsignore@reviewjournal.com. Follow @VinnyBonsignore on X.