The Las Vegas Raiders have found their quarterback for 2025, while the Seattle Seahawks suddenly find themselves searching for a new signal-caller. In a blockbuster deal that sent shockwaves through the league, the Seahawks traded two-time Pro Bowl QB Geno Smith to the Raiders for a third-round pick. Smith is entering the final year of his three-year, $75 million deal. Here’s a breakdown of the six winners and losers from this landscape-altering trade.
Winner: Las Vegas Raiders
The Raiders have landed a new quarterback with whom Pete Carroll is intimately familiar. Smith resurrected his career while with Carroll in Seattle, transforming from backup to two-time Pro Bowler and the 2022 Comeback Player of the Year. He’s coming off a season where he posted career-highs in passing yards (4,320) and completion percentage (70.4%), while tossing 21 touchdowns. Though he threw 15 interceptions (third-most in the NFL) and recorded his lowest QBR (53.8) in three years as Seattle’s starter, Smith represents a significant upgrade for Las Vegas. The Raiders are escaping quarterback purgatory after cycling through Aidan O’Connell, Gardner Minshew, and Desmond Ridder last season. Perhaps most importantly, they’re only committed for one year if Smith doesn’t pan out, maintaining flexibility to draft a franchise quarterback either this April or in 2026.
Related: Las Vegas Raiders could be plotting blockbuster trade in 2025 NFL Draft
Loser: Geno Smith
Smith has traded a competitive situation for a rebuilding one, moving from a 10-7 Seahawks team to a Raiders squad coming off a dismal 4-13 campaign. He enters the final year of his contract with no extension in place, clearly viewed as a bridge quarterback rather than a long-term solution. His market value next offseason remains a massive question mark. If he recaptures his 2022 form, he could cash in one more time, but a mediocre season could devastate the 34-year-old’s earning potential.
Related: Maxx Crosby campaigns for future Hall of Famer to join Las Vegas Raiders
Loser: Seattle Seahawks
The current quarterback depth chart in Seattle following the Smith trade looks bleak: Sam Howell and Jaren Hall. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Seahawks had been working to extend Smith, but when talks stalled, they pivoted to extracting value, receiving the Raiders’ third-round pick (92nd overall). Seattle holds the 18th overall selection, making it extremely unlikely they’ll have a shot at top prospects Cam Ward or Shedeur Sanders. Could they reach for Jaxson Dart if available? Regardless, the Seahawks face tremendous uncertainty at the game’s most important position heading into 2025.
Related: Seattle Seahawks cut bait with former All-Pro, Las Vegas Raiders become immediate frontrunners
Winner: Sam Darnold
According to The Athletic’s Dianna Russini, the Seahawks will target Sam Darnold when free agency opens next Monday. Seattle now desperately needs a QB1 after trading Smith, giving Darnold tremendous leverage in negotiations. After resurrecting his career with the Minnesota Vikings in 2024, Darnold could command up to $40 million annually – a stunning turnaround for a quarterback once labeled a draft bust. The domino effect of the Smith trade has potentially turned Darnold into one of the biggest financial winners of the offseason.
Loser: Russell Wilson
With the Raiders filling their quarterback need, a potential landing spot for Russell Wilson vanishes from the board. Despite some rocky moments in their relationship, Wilson could have been an intriguing fit with Carroll and the Raiders as he comes off a Pro Bowl season with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He wouldn’t have broken the bank and could have served as that bridge quarterback Las Vegas was seeking. Additionally, with the Seahawks now hunting for a new signal-caller, it’s worth noting that a Wilson reunion in Seattle seems extremely unlikely.
Related: NFL rumors disclose which team Russell Wilson eyeing if he leaves the Pittsburgh Steelers
Winner: Jakobi Meyers
Raiders wide receiver Jakobi Meyers somehow managed to produce a 1,000-yard receiving season despite catching passes from the underwhelming trio of O’Connell, Minshew, and Ridder. Now paired with a legitimate starting quarterback, Meyers should see his numbers climb beyond last year’s 1,027 receiving yards and four touchdowns. Smith’s accuracy and willingness to push the ball downfield mesh perfectly with Meyers’ skillset, potentially unlocking a career year for the reliable target.
Related: Execs predict Las Vegas Raiders pass on QB in Round 1 of draft for overdue Josh Jacobs replacement
