Seven big questions on the Geno Smith trade: Why Raiders got aggressive and Seahawks gave up on their QB

Seven Big Questions on the Geno Smith Trade: Why Raiders Got Aggressive and Seahawks Gave Up on Their QB

When Pete Carroll took the reins as the head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders, he made it clear that he wasn’t interested in a slow rebuild. Instead, he wanted to hit the ground running, and that intention was made evident on Friday. The Raiders traded a 2025 third-round pick to the Seattle Seahawks for Geno Smith, reuniting the veteran quarterback with his former coach.

Smith, who was a two-time Pro Bowl selection under Carroll, recorded 8,641 passing yards, 55 touchdowns, and 21 interceptions in 37 games. The Raiders had been exploring various options to find a quarterback who could make them competitive in 2025. They even attempted to lure Matthew Stafford away from the Los Angeles Rams last week but were unsuccessful.

On the other side, the Seahawks will save $31 million in cash and cap space while taking on $13.5 million in dead money. This move gives Seattle another opportunity to find a long-term answer at quarterback.

To delve deeper into the implications of this trade, ESPN reporters Ryan McFadden and Brady Henderson tackle four major questions, including what lies ahead. National reporter Jeremy Fowler discusses potential quarterback fits for Seattle, analyst Ben Solak offers his insights, and draft analyst Matt Miller looks forward to the draft for both teams.

Are the Seahawks Heading for a Complete Rebuild?

While the Seahawks are not embarking on a full-scale rebuild, they do have significant gaps to address, particularly at quarterback and potentially at wide receiver, depending on the outcome of DK Metcalf’s trade request. The decision to trade Smith stems from doubts about his long-term viability as a starter, given his age and inconsistent performance. With the two sides unable to agree on his value during extension talks, the Seahawks opted to trade him now rather than let him play out the final year of his contract.

When the Seahawks acquired Sam Howell 12 months ago, they believed he could succeed Smith as their starter. However, his performance last season did not indicate readiness to lead the team to the playoffs. While they need a quarterback, the Seahawks, coming off a 10-7 season, should be able to build a solid roster around whichever veteran they choose to replace Smith. Potential candidates include Sam Darnold, Aaron Rodgers, or Justin Fields. The recent releases of Tyler Lockett and four other veterans were logical decisions based on contracts not justifying production. — Henderson

How Does Smith Fit in the Offense the Raiders Are Building with New Coordinator Chip Kelly?

The Raiders struggled offensively in 2024, finishing 29th in points per game (18.2). Smith and Kelly should be able to improve that in 2025. Smith threw for more than 4,000 yards for the second time in three seasons. Tight end Brock Bowers was one of the top pass catchers in the league last season despite shaky quarterback play from Gardner Minshew and Aidan O’Connell. Pairing him with Smith could do wonders for Kelly’s offense.

Kelly is known for running up-tempo offenses, but he adapted his approach to help Ohio State win a national title. He should be able to design a creative run game that balances the offense and reduces pressure on the quarterback, which is the goal for the new regime. — McFadden

What Other Needs Remain for the Raiders to Be Viable Contenders in the AFC West?

Acquiring Smith answered the biggest question on the Raiders’ roster, but there’s still work to be done. The Raiders have several needs, especially on offense, if they want to compete in a division that featured three teams making the postseason in 2024 and the AFC Champion Kansas City Chiefs. Las Vegas will need to revamp the running back room after finishing last in rushing yards (79.8) per game in 2024. With the No. 6 pick in the draft, Las Vegas could address that need by taking Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty.

Las Vegas also needs to add another playmaker. Bowers and wide receiver Jakobi Meyers are solid pieces to work with. However, the Raiders still need a No. 1 wide receiver. The Raiders are expected to explore the free agent market for a wideout, a league source told ESPN. But the possibility of trading for a wide receiver shouldn’t be ruled out either. — McFadden

Will the Seahawks Still Consider Trading Metcalf?

The better question might be this: will Metcalf reconsider his trade request with Smith gone? Money tends to talk louder than anything else, but if any part of Metcalf’s discontent over the last few seasons has been rooted in his desire to catch passes from a quarterback other than Smith, then perhaps his stance will change. Regardless of what Metcalf wants, general manager John Schneider has made it clear that he’ll do what’s best for the Seahawks, first and foremost. That means trading Metcalf to the team that gives Seattle the best offer — or not trading him at all, instead having him play out the final year of his deal absent an extension — and not necessarily trading him to the team he prefers.

Before agreeing to the trade for Smith, the Seahawks and Raiders also discussed a deal involving Metcalf, so Las Vegas may still be a team to watch. That wouldn’t satisfy his reported desire to play for a contender, but that won’t be Schneider’s concern. From a financial standpoint, the $31 million the Seahawks save in cash and cap space with the Smith trade theoretically makes it easier to fit a Metcalf extension into their budget. They should have north of $60 million in cap space heading into free agency. — Henderson

Which Quarterbacks Could the Seahawks Look to Sign in Free Agency?

The Seahawks now have a blank canvas to rebuild their quarterback room. The options are plentiful, but all carry risk. A natural fit would be the Atlanta Falcons‘ Kirk Cousins, who was with offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak in Minnesota. But Atlanta has not shown a willingness to move Cousins. Darnold will be the top free agent passer and also has familiarity in that system. Seattle would be wise to at least gauge his market.

A Rodgers experiment would be intriguing but might not fit with the culture that Mike Macdonald is attempting to build. After that, Seattle would be looking at more cost-effective options such as Fields or Daniel Jones. A Russell Wilson reunion seems unlikely. And it’s worth noting that Schneider hasn’t taken a big swing on a first-round quarterback in the draft. No better time than now, despite what’s perceived as a weak quarterback class. — Fowler

How Does This Change the Draft Plan for Each Team?

The Raiders trading a third-rounder for Smith effectively takes them out of the quarterback mix, at least early in this draft. At No. 6 overall, Las Vegas can now be a true “best player available” team like they were when they took Bowers at No. 13 last year. Jeanty, defensive end Shemar Stewart (Texas A&M) and even an offensive lineman like Will Campbell (LSU) are suddenly all in play.

For Seattle … well, everything is on the table now for a team that was a playoff contender last season but now seems to be resetting. But going quarterback at No. 18 isn’t likely unless Shedeur Sanders (Colorado) is somehow still on the board. Seattle has been linked to Jaxson Dart (Ole Miss) and Quinn Ewers (Texas) as second-round options, though. The Seahawks pick at No. 50 in Round 2. In Round 1, I think the Seahawks could consider drafting an offensive tackle like Armand Membou (Missouri). Membou is awesome on the move thanks to his strength and quickness, and he’s versatile enough to play anywhere. That would be a dream fit. — Miller

What Should the Seahawks Do at QB for 2025?

The Seahawks should sign a bridge quarterback and draft a speculative QB2 in the middle rounds. Remember, Schneider is both the general manager who drafted Wilson in the third round in 2012 and the one who got great value from Smith as a free agent signing in 2019. Darnold is the ideal bridge candidate, in that he has the highest ceiling and some familiarity with Kubiak from their shared year in San Francisco. But that only applies if he’s signed to a deal with only one or two years of real money. That would give Seattle an out in the event Darnold gets outplayed by a midround option on a rookie deal like Jalen Milroe (Alabama) or Tyler Shough (Louisville). Jones would also fit as an adequate bridge option if Seattle is priced out of the Darnold market.

Of course, neither a bridge nor a rookie has much chance of developing into something more until the Seahawks’ offensive line is fixed. That remains Seattle’s biggest offseason priority. — Solak