The Las Vegas Raiders addressed their biggest offseason roster question on Friday by acquiring a quarterback in a trade with the Seattle Seahawks, according to a source familiar with the deal who spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity, as the trade had not yet been officially announced.
The source revealed that the Raiders are sending a third-round pick to Seattle in exchange for Smith. The 34-year-old, a two-time Pro Bowler, reunites with new Raiders head coach Pete Carroll in Las Vegas, while the Seahawks will now look for a new starting quarterback.
Smith, who threw for 4,320 yards, 21 touchdowns, and 15 interceptions last season, is expected to be the frontrunner for the starting job when the Raiders open their season, even if they draft a quarterback next month.
Holding the sixth overall pick, the Raiders are unlikely to land Miami’s Cam Ward and may not have a shot at Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders. If Sanders is available, they could select him and follow a strategy similar to the Falcons last year when they signed Kirk Cousins and drafted Michael Penix Jr. Alternatively, Las Vegas might take a later-round prospect like Alabama’s Jalen Milroe or opt to stick with a quarterback group featuring Smith and Aidan O’Connell. O’Connell finished each of the past two seasons as the starter but has yet to prove he can make the Raiders a contender in the AFC West, which sent three teams to the playoffs last season—excluding the Raiders, who finished 4-13 and parted ways with head coach Antonio Pierce and general manager Tom Telesco.
Carroll hopes to replicate the success he had with Smith in Seattle, where he revived the quarterback’s career after signing him in 2019. After stints with the Jets, Giants, and Chargers, Smith was initially a backup in Seattle before emerging as the starter in 2022. That season, he led the league with a 69.8% completion rate, throwing for 4,282 yards, 30 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions, earning the NFL Comeback Player of the Year award. The Seahawks had winning seasons in all three years with Smith as their starter.
The trade for Smith is part of an active offseason for the Raiders. Earlier in the week, they signed defensive end Maxx Crosby to a record-breaking three-year, $106.5 million contract extension, with $91.5 million guaranteed, keeping him with the team through 2029.
These moves highlight a shift in direction under the team’s new leadership, which includes Carroll, general manager John Spytek, and minority owner Tom Brady. Whether these changes translate into a playoff run remains to be seen, particularly with Smith competing in a division that features Patrick Mahomes, Justin Herbert, and Bo Nix.
Smith’s move to Las Vegas also removes a potential destination for Aaron Rodgers, who is seeking a new team after the New York Jets announced his impending release.