Anonymous executives praise Geno Smith trade

When the Las Vegas Raiders and Seattle Seahawks came together for a trade in March that sent quarterback Geno Smith to the desert, it marked a clear shift for both teams heading into the new season.

Smith reunites with Raiders head coach Pete Carroll in Las Vegas, and his new team hopes that he can give them the stability under center that they have lacked for far too long. Meanwhile, the Seahawks reset at the quarterback position, signing former Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold to a three-year, $100.5 million contract. In April’s draft, the Seahawks would use the third-round pick acquired in the Smith trade to select Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe as their starter of the future, while the Raiders went for depth in the sixth round with North Dakota State’s Cam Miller.

A few months after the trade, many across the league believe the deal was the right move from both sides.

Did the Raiders and Seahawks conduct a win-win trade?

For the Raiders, the upside of landing Smith is easy to determine, as his presence fixes what was a weak quarterback room over the last couple of years.

“Geno gives them instant credibility at the position, and Pete [Carroll] and Geno seem to have good chemistry together, so it’s a good way for both of them to start,” an NFL team executive said, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. “I figure they will look to draft a quarterback in the next few years, but for now they have an answer.”

While Smith is more of a short-term proposition, he is most likely an upgrade over the likes of Gardner Minshew, Aidan O’Connell and Jimmy Garoppolo.

Meanwhile, from Seattle’s perspective, moving on from Smith allowed them to embrace a new vision for their team, starting with a full-on restructuring of their quarterback room.

“Darnold and Geno to me are very similar, solidified starters but not in the top end,” an NFL personnel director said, per Fowler. “Geno has more of a track record as a passer, but Darnold threw 35 touchdowns last year, so if he can play close to how he did last year, that’s a great situation and opportunity for him. And Milroe has a different skill set. If he develops and figures out how to be a quarterback, he will become a really interesting player for them.”

If the Raiders and Seahawks both improve in 2025, neither team will walk away from this deal dissatisfied.