The NFL offseason is an endless reality show, and this year, the Las Vegas Raiders are heating up the drama. With a rollercoaster of a season behind them and a fresh start under legendary coach Pete Carroll, the team needed to figure out their quarterback situation. Fans speculated: Would they chase a young QB in the draft? Would they roll the dice on a risky trade? Would they reunite him with a former QB protege (who he won the Super Bowl with)? And then—boom! A move that nobody saw coming.

A reunion, but not the one everyone expected. In comes a former Seahawks signal caller… not Russell Wilson, but Geno Smith. The Raiders swooped in and signed the veteran QB just weeks after bringing in Pete Carroll from Seattle, in what appears to be a football buddy-movie plot. Some saw it as a regular old quarterback trade, but former Raiders GM Mike Mayock thinks there’s more to it.

Discussing QB moves from the first couple of days of the FA window on The Rich Eisen Show on 11th March 2025, Mayock said, “I thought that the whole thing was intriguing because all of a sudden Seattle got younger. They went from 35-year-old Geno down to 27-year-old Sam Darnold… similar dollars”. The move by Seattle Seahawks to sign up Darnold, a former first-rounder who hasn’t been consistent, shows they’re counting on his potential and his 2024 showing.

Speaking of the Smith-Carroll reunion, Mayock said, “Pete Carroll gets his quarterback that he’s used to, and he’ll feel like, can immediately compete, especially with their free agent dollars available.” But he thought it might not be the end of the Raiders’ QB hunt, adding “I don’t think it takes Vegas out of the QB market, potentially even at no. 6 (in the draft) depending on what happens up high.” Mayock further expressed he felt Geno was a short-term solution, adding “Geno is a bridge. For me, Geno is not a franchise quarterback.”

The former Raiders GM (2019-2021) went on to compare Geno to another franchise QB. “You can win games with Geno. He’s won between 8-10 games a year for the last 3 years in Seattle. They give the Raiders a chance to win quickly. That’s kind of how I viewed Derek Carr when I was with the Raiders. I mean, a guy you can win with, but at age 35 you still have to be for a permanent franchise quarterback.”

For the Raiders, this signing makes a lot of sense. Geno isn’t any old veteran QB. He’s a guy who is intimately familiar with Carroll’s system. And let’s not forget how he turned his career around in Seattle. In 2022, Smith became a career backup-turned Pro Bowl quarterback. He led the league in completion percentage, throwing for over 4,000 yards. That’s a comeback story from a sports movie. He proved he could quarterback an offense and establish himself in the locker room. If he takes the same heat to Vegas, the Raiders may have just found the stability they’ve been seeking.

What Geno Smith’s signing means for the Raiders’ future

Of course, that makes everyone wonder the million-dollar question. Is Geno Smith the future, or just a bridge to the next star? The Raiders possess the sixth draft pick overall in the upcoming draft, and rumors are already brewing about what they will do. Some believe they may still seek out a young quarterback, whereas others perceive that they will use the pick to build up around Smith. One of the more intriguing options is Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty, who led the FBS in rushing and scrimmage yards last season. If the Raiders do pick him up, it would mean that they are heading in a run-based offense direction.

And then, of course, there is the wide receiver position. Cooper Kupp has been a name floating in free agency rumors, and the idea of pairing him up with Geno Smith should have Raider Nation excited. Kupp is a route-running magician with glue hands, and his addition to the mix would give the Raiders some serious firepower. Whether the front office is seriously considering a splashy trade or just testing the waters, it’s a storyline worth watching.

The QB trade has created a whole lot of hype among the fans. Some say giving up a third-round pick for a Pro Bowl QB is a straight-up heist. Others wonder if Seattle pulled a fast one, cutting ties at the right time. Was this a genius move by the Raiders or a long-game play by the Seahawks? Only time will tell, but one thing’s clear: this deal just cranked up the stakes for next season.

Pete Carroll isn’t here to play it safe. Whether Geno Smith is the Raiders’ QB of the future or just a temporary fix, his arrival has injected a new level of excitement. With the draft coming up and potential roster shake-ups still on the horizon, Raider Nation better buckle up! This ride is just getting started.