Officially, the Las Vegas Raiders have become the most dramatic team in the NFL (again, thanks to Antonio Pierce). Tom Brady just made a major move by bringing Geno Smith to town. And if this wasn’t spicy enough, he’s reuniting with his old coach, Pete Carroll – who just left for Las Vegas, leaving Seattle behind to sprinkle his magic (or chaos?) there as well. With a Super Bowl ring, boundless energy, and a knack for rallying players, he could breathe new life into a Raiders squad desperate for stability.

But, back to Geno Smith, what’s the catch there? Is Brady trying to turn Smith into some championship-caliber QB or is it just another Raiders move that will make fans pull their hair mid-season? Let’s break it down.

As Tom Brady is a minority owner of the Las Vegas Raiders, he isn’t just sitting quietly. He had a huge say in the Raiders’ decision to trade for Geno Smith. Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz even spilled the tea that Brady was “fully onboard” with the move. And let’s be honest, if Brady co-signs something, it’s got to have some weight, right?

Oh, and the Raiders aren’t done yet. Because Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) posted on X today, “Raiders have signed former Panthers free-agent TE Ian Thomas.” Another piece in the roster? Maybe. Ian Thomas is not a superstar, but yes, he does bring solid depth and blocking ability to a team that desperately needs stability.

Well, the Raiders had an absolute dumpster fire of a season with 4-13. They needed a lifeline and as per Brady – Geno, Ian and Carroll are going to make a comeback story for the Raiders. Plus, Geno has huge respect for Brady – he calls him his inspiration. The reason he wore #12 in high school and college.

But why did the Seahawks let Geno Smith walkway? Well, he wanted a contract extension past 2025 with the Seahawks, but when talks stalled, he requested a trade. Enter the Raiders, who scooped him up for a third-round pick. It’s a solid deal. But Seattle initially wanted Raiders’ defensive star Maxx Crosby in return. (Yeah, that wasn’t happening.) And Geno is reportedly going to receive a $40-45 million per year deal. Yep, that’s a bag. But if the Raiders are going all-in on him as their guy, that check might just get written.

Now that Geno has reunited with Pete Carroll, it feels like the Carroll-Smith saga has a new chapter. But will this reunion be a masterpiece or a messy sequel?

Pete Carroll Just Made the Raiders Smarter—Will It Pay Off?

Pete Carroll, who just landed in Las Vegas, is pulling moves like he’s in his 40s – the dude’s 72. He’s already making a lot of changes in how the Raiders operate. In the past, the team hasn’t exactly been known for embracing analytics (more like running in the opposite direction), but Carroll’s changing that.

Enter Ryan Paganetti as their head coach research specialist – aka Mr. Analytics. Yes, the same Paganetti who was part of the Eagles’ analytics-heavy coaching squad. It’s a bold move for a franchise that’s made some highly questionable calls in the past, especially under Antonio Pierce. But hey, maybe numbers do matter after all.

But the Raiders are making sure they only make smart moves this season – the signing of former Panthers TE Ian Thomas is proof of that. They are strategically reshaping their offense rather than just throwing money at flashy names, like Jakobi Meyers for a $33 million deal or handing Jimmy Garoppolo a three-year, $72.75 million contract.

It’s a clear shift from the chaotic, old-school decision-making that defined their previous season under Antonio Pierce. The Raiders need a win, and this whole Brady-Carroll-Geno saga is giving them a fresh start. But is Geno Smith the long-term answer? Can Carroll’s analytics-driven approach shake things up enough to turn a 4-13 team into a contender? And most importantly—what exactly is Brady cooking behind the scenes?