The quarterback carousel in Las Vegas seems to have finally come to a halt as the Raiders have made a move to snatch Geno Smith from the Seattle Seahawks. This acquisition sends a third-round draft pick back up to the Pacific Northwest, a deal initially reported by KTNV on Friday. Smith, who has helmed the Seahawks' offense as the starting QB since the 2022 season, will now aim to quickly learn to lead the Raiders' offensive lineup.
Last season, despite a sturdy performance from Smith guiding Seattle to a 10-7 record, the Seahawks couldn't quite clinch a playoff spot. Over his tenure, Smith not only gained the admiration of fans and players but also of his coach Pete Carroll, who recently took over the Raiders. Carroll has gone on record, calling Smith one of his "all-time favorite guys," according to a statement obtained by KTNV reporter John Boyle. Smith has shared similar sentiments in the past, expressing his childhood desire to "always wanted to play for Coach Carroll."
The move to get Smith from Seattle was reported by multiple NFL insiders, with the trade details pending an official announcement expected no sooner than next week. After a season with the Raiders utilizing three different starting quarterbacks, fans and team executives alike have been eagerly waiting to solve their main gridiron question mark. The reunion of Smith and Carroll holds promise on the field, as they endeavor to mount a more consistent campaign in the upcoming season, as per FOX5 Vegas.
With Smith's arrival, the chatter about the Raiders' quarterback situation can start to subside. Pete Carroll's fondness for Smith is well documented, with the coach praising Smith's resilience and competitive spirit. "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," Carroll told KTNV.
