After whiffing on players like Matthew Stafford in the trade market, the Las Vegas Raiders pivoted and landed Geno Smith from the Seattle Seahawks in exchange for a 2025 third-round pick.
The move materialized after the Seahawks decided to revamp their roster and part ways with several of their veterans. With D.K. Metcalf and Tyler Lockett no longer in Seattle, it didn’t make much sense for them to keep Smith, and Las Vegas swooped on the opportunity to land one of the NFL’s most underrated passers.
With Smith now under center, the Raiders have a capable quarterback to help players like Brock Bowers develop and potentially make some noise during the 2025 season. However, the team could still use a workhorse running back to complement Smith and the passing game.
Former Boise State star running back Ashton Jeanty has been a popular mock draft target for the 2025 NFL Draft, and he had high praise for Smith after the two met via Austin C. Boyd of Athlon Sports:
“I didn’t really get to chop it up with (Smith), but I met for the first time in person on my visit,” Jeanty told Athlon Sports. “Obviously, getting a chance later in his career has been working well for him. I like what he did with the Seahawks. Obviously, he’s rocking with Pete Carroll. I think he’s a great player. If I were to play with him, he’d be a great quarterback to have.”
Jeanty is a game-changing runner who can do anything offensively, so it’s easy to envision his fit in head coach Pete Carroll’s offensive system. Smith has always had a solid running game to help buoy the offense, and Jeanty would be the perfect match on paper given his explosiveness, speed and contact balance.
The Raiders own the No. 6 pick, and using it on Jeanty would be a solid decision, though some might argue the team should continue to build through the trenches. This year’s draft class should have numerous high-impact players, but it’s tantalizing to think what Jeanty can do in Las Vegas’ offense next season.
Geno Smith looking forward to learning from Tom Brady
Geno Smith has a chance to prove that he was worthy of the draft capital used to acquire him this offseason. Smith is a true pocket passer who has a beautiful deep ball, but one of the best perks of playing for the Las Vegas Raiders is the access to Tom Brady.
In fact, Smith said he is looking forward to learning more from Brady.
