The Seattle Seahawks traded Quarterback Geno Smith to Las Vegas Raiders on Friday night for a third election and raised questions about their plans ahead.
Head coach Mike MacDonald enters his second year, and Seattle’s strategy at Quarterback remains unclear after shopping Smith, who had one year left on his contract.
It is unlikely that this trait is part of a large plan to shop up to the three best choices of the 2025 NFL draft. It would require much more than an extra third round, especially with Seahawks which holds no. 18 overall selection.
According to Albert Breer, the Seahawks initially proposed a blockbuster trading, Smith and the broad receiver DK Metcalf sent to Raiders in exchange for defensive end Maxx Crosby. Raiders decreased rapidly before making Crosby to the highest paid non-quarter hill in the NFL.
The rejected offer did not end the negotiations, and Smith is now a raider. According to Jordan Schultz, Las Vegas plans to prepare a multi-year contract with the 34-year-old, making him the future face of the franchise.
We can discuss whether this is a good decision, especially in an AFC vest with Patrick Mahomes, Justin Herbert and Bo Nix.
But the more puzzling aspect of this trade lies with the Seahawks, as a third round is a minimal return for a quarterback of Smith’s caliber.
Seattle also released the long -lasting recipient Tyler Lockett, and it seems that Metcalf can also be traded. While Smith and Metcalf did not achieve great success together, it is difficult to determine the direction of Seahawk.
The free-agent-quarterback market is thin, entitled by Sam Darnold, Daniel Jones, Justin Fields and Russell Wilson. Reports on Saturday morning indicated that Darnold is Seattle’s best free agent goal. While he would be considered a “big splash” in this year’s free agent class, Darnold really does the needle much longer than Smith? His roof was on full screen this season – and during the season – with Minnesota Vikings.
With election no. 18, perhaps the Seahawks should focus on Ole Miss Quarterback Jaxson Dart. They could follow the drawing laid out by Denver Bronco’s last season: move on from an aging quarterback, develop a first round of beginners on a five -year, cheap business and build around him. That’s how Seattle built a Super Bowl team around Wilson a decade ago.
While Smith’s arrival at Las Vegas does not start the celebration on the strip, the real surprise is how willing Seahawks was to move on. They have better a concrete plan to land Darnold, or this can be turned into a complete rebuild very quickly.
