Geno Smith, the veteran quarterback, is presumably headed for the knife! His former team, the Seattle Seahawks, have traded him to the Las Vegas Raiders for a 2025 third-round pick. At 34 years old, he’s just a few days shy of his 35th birthday in early October. He has one year left on his three-year, $75 million deal, which includes $31 million in guarantees. Smith’s path to success with the Seahawks has been nothing less than incredible. Now, under head coach Pete Carroll, he has carved out a niche as an “immediate fix” at quarterback for the Seahawks.
During his tenure with the Seahawks, Smith was an impact player. He played in only 37 games and accumulated an astonishing 8,641 passing yards. In the meantime, he was throwing 55 TDs and 21 INTs. Smith, a two-time Pro Bowler, started his career by making 29 starts over his first two years. From 2015-2021, he moved to a backup role, starting only five games and appearing in 15 total contests.
Moving on from Smith is a notable decision for the Raiders as they continue to search for new options at the quarterback position. John Spytek, a key figure in the Raiders’ management, expressed confidence in Smith’s capabilities.
“We really look forward to having him not just this year, but for the years to come,” – John Spytek
Smith’s departure from Seattle is a huge win for both him and the Sounders. Pete Carroll, who was in charge during Smith’s Seattle run, admitted that the trade was a smart move.
“Fortunately, Seattle was willing to listen, and John Spytek [made] his first big time deal. We pulled it off exactly in the manner that we wanted to. [Smith] gives us a great kick start to what’s going on.” – Pete Carroll
Though the team made attempts to keep Smith, Seahawks GM John Schneider later admitted that negotiations went in an unexpectedly direction.
“It became apparent that we weren’t going to be able to get a deal done,” – John Schneider
Smith’s influence on the profession cannot be overstated. Having started as well as come off the bench, he provides versatility and depth that will further help the Raiders compete for a stronger roster. Now that Smith is moving to Las Vegas, conversations about his new gig center around the things he did in his old one. His prospects for continued success similarly loom large in these discussions.
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