Remember that time when your favorite TV show kept swapping out main characters, and you just couldn’t keep up with who was who? That’s been the Raiders‘ quarterback situation lately. After parting ways with Derek Carr in 2023, they tried a carousel of QBs—Gardner Minshew, Aidan O’Connell, and even a cameo by Desmond Ridder. But alas, the 2024 season ended with a less-than-stellar 4-13 record.

The Raiders’ Nation was frustrated. Tom Brady was frustrated. Enter Geno Smith, the seasoned signal-caller from Seattle, reuniting with his old coach, Pete Carroll, in Vegas. All of a sudden, it’s giving a true succession vibe. And now? Well, the 34-year-old QB is gearing up for the 13th season of his career and his first in Vegas.

On Wednesday, Smith took to his official ‘X’ handle and shared a few glimpses of his workout and practice session, writing, “Now & 4ever (forever) I bring it home to ya!” Well, Geno’s journey to Vegas wasn’t just a roll of the dice. After grinding on the gridiron for the Seahawks for six seasons, the QB found himself packing his bags after some back-and-forth with Seattle on contract terms.

Fast forward, and now that he’s reuniting with Pete Carroll, who once called him “one of my all-time favorite guys,” is just the cherry on the cake. The Raiders traded for Smith in exchange for the 92nd overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft. And trust me, there’s a valid reason why the Raiders’ GM John Spytek agreed to this trade.

During his recent appearance on the Raiders podcast, Spytek revealed the reasons behind choosing Geno for the QB position. “When you have Coach Carroll in your camp and he can swear by the player, the competitor, the worker, you know, the leader. That’s a front-row seat, or that’s information that, you know, if I was still with the Bucs, for instance, we wouldn’t have,” he said. And why not?

If there’s anyone who knows Geno Smith like the back of his hand, it’s Pete Carroll. The two spent six years together in Seattle, and now, with Carroll taking over as the Raiders’ head coach, this reunion feels anything but random. Let’s be real—if Pete wasn’t in Vegas, there’s no shot this trade would’ve even happened. The catch?

If you’re thinking that the Raiders are done with their QB room—yeah, not just yet.

Pete Carroll might draft a QB this month

It’s been over a couple of weeks since the Raiders traded for Geno Smith. But the QB is yet to appear in a press conference. The reason? Well, if the reports are true, then Smith is currently negotiating a contract extension with the Raiders. The guy signed a three-year deal with Seattle back in 2023 and is now in the final year of that deal. And it’s unlikely Geno is going to play without a contract extension.

“We’re working on it,” Carroll said when asked about Geno’s contract extension. “G’s excited to get going and get started. He’ll be here when we get rolling, but we are working on it.” Well, according to The Athletic’s Dianna Russini, Geno is seeking a contract worth $40 to $45 million per year. Sure, the Raiders can afford such a massive payday, but why are they delaying his contract extension?

Well, despite trading for Geno Smith, the Raiders are still interested in drafting a QB in April. “Geno is an immediate fix for us, and it’s going to last us,” Carroll said. “We’re going to get a number of years from Geno at his very best. He’s healthy and ready to go. He’s as tuned in as he’s ever been, but that doesn’t mean that we don’t see some guys coming out with tremendous potential. We’re not excluding taking anybody.”

Las Vegas has the No. 6th overall pick and they could use it to draft a QB. But here’s the problem—by the time they’re on the clock, the top guys might already be gone. We’re talking Cam Ward, Shedeur Sanders—poof, off the board. The twist? Vegas might just shake things up with a trade. And the way Carroll and Spytek are making moves this offseason, don’t get surprised if they move up to draft a QB.