Pete Carroll does not need his first 12 months as trainer of the Las Vegas Raiders to be a rebuilding procedure. He needs to get the ball rolling once imaginable — and that become clearer Friday when the Raiders despatched a 2025 third-round select to the Seattle Seahawks for Geno Smith, reuniting the veteran quarterback along with his former trainer.
Smith used to be a two-time Professional Bowl variety beneath Carroll and recorded 8,641 passing yards, 55 touchdowns and 21 interceptions in 37 video games.
The Raiders had plans to guage each and every road to discover a quarterback. However the important thing used to be discovering somebody who will lend a hand the franchise be aggressive in 2025. The Raiders tried to entice Matthew Stafford from the Los Angeles Rams final week however have been unsuccessful.
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As for the Seahawks, they’ll save $31 million in money and cap house whilst taking up $13.5 million in useless cash. Seattle will even have any other alternative to discover a long-term solution at quarterback.
Taking a more in-depth glance, ESPN newshounds Ryan McFadden and Brady Henderson solution 4 giant questions concerning the business, together with what comes subsequent. Nationwide reporter Jeremy Fowler dishes on suits at quarterback for Seattle, analyst Ben Solak weighs in and draft analyst Matt Miller seems ahead to the draft for each groups.
Are the Seahawks heading for a whole rebuild?
No, however they’re going to have some giant holes to fill — beginning at quarterback and probably large receiver relying on what occurs with DK Metcalf’s business request. The Seahawks are buying and selling Smith now not as a result of they wish to embody a complete rebuild however as a result of they have got been skeptical of his viability as their long-term starter given his age and up-and-down play. And with the 2 aspects now not seeing eye-to-eye on his price as they tried to barter an extension, the staff is getting what it will probably for Smith now as an alternative of getting him play out the general 12 months of his deal.
The Seahawks idea after they traded for Sam Howell one year in the past that he had the possible to prevail Smith as their starter, however not anything he confirmed final season suggests he is able to take over, let on my own take Seattle to the playoffs. They will want a quarterback, however coming off a 10-7 season, they must box a forged roster round no matter veteran — Sam Darnold? Aaron Rodgers? Justin Fields? — they tab to exchange Smith. As for the releases of Tyler Lockett and 4 different veterans this week, the ones have been logical selections — with contracts now not justifying manufacturing — that the Seahawks would have made in any 12 months. — Henderson
How does Smith have compatibility within the offense the Raiders are construction with new coordinator Chip Kelly?
The Raiders struggled to attain in 2024, completing twenty ninth in issues in keeping with sport (18.2). Smith and Kelly must support that during 2025. Smith threw for greater than 4,000 yards for the second one time in 3 seasons. Tight finish Brock Bowers used to be one of the crucial most sensible cross catchers within the league final season in spite of shaky quarterback play from Gardner Minshew and Aidan O’Connell. Pairing him with Smith may just do wonders for Kelly’s offense.
Kelly is understood for working up-tempo offenses, however he modified his way to lend a hand Ohio State win a countrywide name. He must have the ability to design an artistic run sport that balances the offense and offers much less force at the quarterback — which has been the function for the brand new regime. — McFadden
What different wishes stay for the Raiders to be viable contenders within the AFC West?
Obtaining Smith responded the most important query at the Raiders’ roster, however there may be nonetheless paintings. The Raiders have a handful of wishes, particularly on offense in the event that they wish to compete in a department that featured 3 groups making the postseason in 2024 and the AFC champion Kansas Town Chiefs. Las Vegas will want to support at working again after completing final in dashing yards (79.8) in keeping with sport in 2024. With the No. 6 select within the draft, Las Vegas may just deal with that want via taking Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty.
Las Vegas additionally has so as to add any other playmaker. Bowers and large receiver Jakobi Meyers are forged choices. Alternatively, the Raiders nonetheless want a No. 1 large receiver. The Raiders are anticipated to do their due diligence in unfastened company for a wideout, a league supply advised ESPN. However the potential of buying and selling for a large receiver should not be dominated out both. — McFadden
Geno Smith will reunite with Pete Carroll in Las Vegas. Picture via Tom Hauck/Getty Pictures
Will the Seahawks nonetheless imagine buying and selling Metcalf?
The simpler query may well be this: Will Metcalf rethink his business request with Smith long past? Cash has a tendency to speak louder than anything, but when any a part of Metcalf’s discontent during the last few seasons has been rooted in his want to catch passes from a quarterback as opposed to Smith, then most likely his stance will trade. Irrespective of what Metcalf needs, normal supervisor John Schneider has made it transparent that he’s going to do what is perfect for the Seahawks. That suggests buying and selling Metcalf to the staff that provides Seattle the most productive be offering — or now not buying and selling him and having him play out the general 12 months of his deal absent an extension.
Ahead of agreeing to the business for Smith, the Seahawks and Raiders additionally mentioned a deal involving Metcalf, so Las Vegas may nonetheless be a staff to observe. That would not fulfill his reported want to play for a contender, however that may not be Schneider’s fear. From a monetary perspective, the $31 million the Seahawks save in money and cap house with the Smith business theoretically makes it more straightforward to suit a Metcalf extension into their price range. They must have north of $60 million in cap house heading into unfastened company. — Henderson
Which quarterbacks may just the Seahawks glance to check in unfastened company?
The Seahawks now have a clean canvas to improve their quarterbacks. The choices are ample, however all lift chance. A herbal have compatibility will be the Atlanta Falcons’ Kirk Cousins, who used to be with offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak in Minnesota. However Atlanta has now not proven a willingness to transport Cousins. Darnold would be the most sensible unfastened agent passer and in addition has familiarity with that machine. Seattle could be smart to a minimum of gauge his marketplace.
A Rodgers experiment could be intriguing however may now not have compatibility with the tradition Macdonald is trying to construct. After that, Seattle could be having a look at less expensive choices corresponding to Fields or Daniel Jones. A Russell Wilson reunion turns out not likely. And it is value noting that Schneider hasn’t taken a large swing on a first-round quarterback. No higher time than now, in spite of what is perceived as a vulnerable quarterback magnificence. — Fowler
How does this transformation the draft plan for every staff?
The Raiders buying and selling a third-rounder for Smith successfully takes them out of the quarterback combine, a minimum of early on this draft. At No. 6 total, Las Vegas can now be a real “perfect participant to be had” staff adore it used to be when it took Bowers at No. 13 final 12 months. Jeanty, defensive finish Shemar Stewart (Texas A&M) or even an offensive lineman like Will Campbell (LSU) are unexpectedly all in play.
What to understand for the 2025 NFL draft
• Mocks: Kiper | Miller | Reid | Yates
• Scores: Kiper | Miller | Reid | Yates
• QB Board | Pos. ranks | Mix recap
• Select order | Scouting evals | Extra
For Seattle … smartly, the whole thing is at the desk for a staff that used to be a playoff contender final season however now appears to be resetting. However going quarterback at No. 18 is not most probably except Shedeur Sanders (Colorado) remains to be at the board. Seattle has been connected to Jaxson Dart (Ole Leave out) and Quinn Ewers (Texas) as second-round choices, regardless that. The Seahawks select at No. 50 in Spherical 2. In Spherical 1, I believe the Seahawks may just imagine drafting an offensive take on like Armand Membou (Missouri). Membou is superior at the transfer because of his power and quickness, and he is flexible sufficient to play any place. That will be a dream have compatibility. — Miller
What must the Seahawks do at QB for 2025?
The Seahawks must signal a bridge quarterback and draft a speculative QB2 within the heart rounds. Bear in mind, Schneider drafted Wilson within the 0.33 around in 2012 and were given nice price from Smith as a unfastened agent signing in 2019. Darnold is the best bridge candidate as a result of he has the best possible ceiling and a few familiarity with Kubiak from their shared 12 months in San Francisco. However that most effective applies if he is signed to a handle just one or two years of actual cash. That will give Seattle an out if Darnold will get outplayed via a midround choice on a rookie deal corresponding to Jalen Milroe (Alabama) or Tyler Shough (Louisville). Jones would additionally have compatibility as an ok bridge choice if Seattle cannot find the money for Darnold.
In fact, neither a bridge nor a rookie has a lot probability of creating into one thing extra till the Seahawks’ offensive line is fastened. That continues to be Seattle’s largest offseason precedence. — Solak
