The Las Vegas Raiders clearly didn’t want to wait until free agency to improve their quarterback situation, as they heavily pursued Matthew Stafford of the Los Angeles Rams before those sides agreed to a reworked contract for the 2025 season.
On Friday, NFL insider Dianna Russini of The Athletic reported that the Raiders “are exploring veteran quarterback options on the free agent and trade market” after they missed out on Stafford.
“That includes the possibility of trading for a current starting QB,” Russini added.
Shortly after Russini offered her update, some understandably linked the Raiders with Geno Smith of the Seattle Seahawks. Smith was previously mentioned as a potential option for Las Vegas, as he is about to enter the final year of the three-year contract that was signed in March 2023. Seahawks general manager John Schneider doesn’t seem to be in any hurry to give Smith an extension, and the 34-year-old played under new Raiders head coach Pete Carroll from 2019-2023 when Carroll was Seattle’s coach.
The Raiders “exploring” the trade market for a QB1 may indicate they are unwilling to get into a bidding war for current Minnesota Vikings starter Sam Darnold when the free-agent negotiating window opens this Monday. Darnold reportedly could receive a three-year deal worth $115M-$125M with between $55M to $85M in guaranteed money if he hits the open market. Smith likely won’t get that kind of guaranteed cash from any club this offseason.
Russini’s report also suggests the Raiders don’t view Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson as a “plan A.” Pittsburgh seems ready to let Wilson reach free agency when the new league year begins on Wednesday, and he presumably will be cheaper than both Darnold and Smith.
Wilson played under Carroll from 2012-21, and the two reportedly have “mended fences” after Wilson and the Seahawks went through a breakup that resulted in Seattle trading him to the Denver Broncos in March 2022.
For a piece published Friday morning, Raiders reporters Vic Tafur and Tashan Reed of The Athletic predicted that the club could move down from the No. 6 pick of the 2025 NFL Draft to choice No. 13 in order to grab Shedeur Sanders. Some teams allegedly no longer have a first-round grade on the Colorado signal-caller, but it’s unclear how Smith might feel about being asked to mentor who is still seen by many as the second-best quarterback of his draft class behind only Miami’s Cam Ward.
