The Las Vegas Raiders answered one of their biggest questions of the offseason on Friday when the team struck a deal with the Seattle Seahawks for veteran starting quarterback, Geno Smith.
The trade will see the Raiders send the Seahawks a third-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, according to reports. Las Vegas had two third-rounders to work with, so they will still be picking in that round come April.
Speaking of the draft, another one of the biggest questions of the Raiders’ offseason has been: will the team select a quarterback with any of their picks this year?
The Raiders doing so was once thought to be a damn-near forgone conclusion, and it would still make sense on the surface given Smith’s age and the fact that he has one year left on his current contract.
But with reports suggesting Las Vegas will extend Smith’s contract, that might not happen anymore. The Athletic’s Dianna Russini writes that Smith is seeking a deal worth $40-$45 million annually, by the way.
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In the opinion of CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones, the Smith trade does may not preclude the Raiders from still drafting a quarterback.
“Acquiring Geno Smith does not take the Raiders out of the running for a rookie QB. Recall the Browns took Baker Mayfield No. 1 overall shortly after trading a third-rounder for Tyrod Taylor,” Jones tweeted.
There’s no doubt Smith has played at an impressive level in recent years, with two Pro Bowls to show for it. However, he also wasn’t able to get the Seahawks over the hump to even a playoff win, so it’s not like he should be locked-in for the long haul without any questions.
If the Raiders are going to extend Smith, it should be with a deal that has an out early on. And, if Las Vegas happens upon a quarterback it loves in the 2025 NFL Draft, they should not hesitate at all to draft the prospect.
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