Quarterback Geno Smith headed to Raiders for reunion with Pete Carroll

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) runs for a touchdown in the fourth quarter during an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers, Sunday, November 17, 2024, in Santa Clara, Calif. Photo by ASSOCIATED PRESS

The Raiders landed the veteran quarterback they’ve so desperately sought over the last month since hiring coach Pete Carroll and general manager John Spytek.

It’s someone who’s highly familiar to Carroll. Veteran quarterback Geno Smith will rejoin his former coach Carroll in Las Vegas next season after the Raiders sent the Seahawks a third-round pick in exchange for him Friday afternoon, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

There were reports that the 34-year-old, 12-year NFL veteran and Seattle could decide to part ways after stalled contract-extension talks. That appears to be what happened, and Seattle found the perfect partner to facilitate a trade in Las Vegas.

Carroll and Smith spent five years together in the Pacific Northwest with their greatest success coming in 2022 when the latter beat out Drew Lock for the starting quarterback job in training camp.

Smith led the Seahawks to the playoffs where they lost in a blowout to the divisional rival San Francisco 49ers in the first round.

But Smith had a career year with 4,282 passing yards and 30 touchdowns to 11 interceptions, earning Comeback Player of the Year honors. He had been a backup for seven straight years before the breakout after initially spending two seasons starting for the New York Jets after being taken in the second round of the 2012 NFL Draft out of West Virginia University.

Smith has continued to play well the last two seasons including ranking fourth with 4,320 passing yards last season in Seattle under first-year coach Mike Macdonald.

Macdonald gave Smith a vow of confidence going into the offseason and expressed a desire to keep him, but the front office apparently had other plans.

Spytek, formerly the assistant general manager with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, has been a part of bringing in veteran quarterbacks at every stop of his career. The Raiders are now no different.

Las Vegas made a run at Matthew Stafford last week before the 2022 Super Bowl champion ultimately came to an agreement to stay with the Los Angeles Rams.

The Raiders reportedly then considered another former Carroll pupil, Russell Wilson, while newly resigned Maxx Crosby advocated giving four-time Most Valuable Player Aaron Rodgers a shot.

But those were both impending free agents, as is Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold whom many thought the franchise could pursue, and the Raiders instead went to the trade market.

Carroll has been adamant about avoiding a rebuild and setting up Las Vegas to compete immediately. A quarterback who can produce without a learning curve counts as a prerequisite to that goal.

Smith fits the bill and will be looking to improve on his 40-43 career record as a starter in Las Vegas starting next season.