Jan 5, 2025; Inglewood, California, USA; Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) leaves the sphere following the sport in opposition to the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium. Necessary Credit score: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Pictures The Seattle Seahawks traded quarterback Geno Smith to the Las Vegas Raiders on Friday evening for a third-round decide, elevating questions on their plans transferring ahead.
Head coach Mike Macdonald is getting into his second yr, and Seattle’s technique at quarterback stays unclear after dealing Smith, who had one yr remaining on his contract.
It’s unlikely this transfer is a part of a grand plan to commerce up into the highest three picks of the 2025 NFL Draft. That will require way over an extra third-rounder, particularly with the Seahawks holding the No. 18 total choice.
In response to Albert Breer, the Seahawks initially proposed a blockbuster commerce, sending Smith and vast receiver DK Metcalf to the Raiders in alternate for defensive finish Maxx Crosby. The Raiders shortly declined earlier than making Crosby the highest-paid non-quarterback within the NFL.
That rejected provide didn’t finish negotiations, and Smith is now a Raider. In response to Jordan Schultz, Las Vegas plans to work out a multiyear contract with the 34-year-old, making him the longer term face of the franchise.
We might debate whether or not that’s a great determination, particularly in an AFC West that includes Patrick Mahomes, Justin Herbert and Bo Nix.
Nevertheless, the extra puzzling facet of this commerce lies with the Seahawks, as a third-round decide is a minimal return for a quarterback of Smith’s caliber.
Seattle additionally launched longtime receiver Tyler Lockett, and it seems Metcalf could also be traded as nicely. Whereas Smith and Metcalf didn’t obtain main success collectively, it’s troublesome to pinpoint the Seahawks’ path.
The free-agent quarterback market is skinny, headlined by Sam Darnold, Daniel Jones, Justin Fields and Russell Wilson. Stories on Saturday morning indicated that Darnold is Seattle’s prime free-agent goal. Whereas he can be thought of a “huge splash” on this yr’s free-agent class, does Darnold actually transfer the needle a lot additional than Smith? His ceiling was on full show this season—and within the postseason—with the Minnesota Vikings.
With the No. 18 decide, perhaps the Seahawks ought to goal Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart. They may comply with the blueprint laid out by the Denver Broncos final offseason: transfer on from an getting older quarterback, draft a first-round rookie on a five-year, cheap deal and construct round him. That’s how Seattle constructed a Tremendous Bowl staff round Wilson a decade in the past.
Whereas Smith’s arrival in Las Vegas isn’t setting off celebrations on the Strip, the true shock is how prepared the Seahawks have been to maneuver on. They higher have a concrete plan to land Darnold, or this might flip right into a full-blown rebuild in a short time.
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