Yeah, that Geno Smith trade did exactly work out for the Raiders, eh?
Multiple reports 10 days ago at the NFL scouting combine plus again Friday cite league sources saying Las Vegas is about to release Smith after only one, lost season with the Raiders.
The former Seahawks Pro Bowl quarterback will have been Vegas’ QB for exactly 12 months since his trade from Seattle.
The imminent move by the Raiders, whose head coach is now former Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, is likely to become official Wednesday. That’s the first day of the new league year.
When it happens, the Raiders will have paid Smith $58.5 million and traded a third-round draft choice to Seattle for two wins, 13 losses and a league-leading 17 interceptions from Smith.
It was the most losses in a season of the 35-year-old Smith’s 12-year NFL career. The interceptions were his most since he threw 21 as a rookie in 2013 with the New York Jets.
It cost former Seahawks coach Pete Carroll and Smith their jobs.
Trading Smith netted Seattle Jalen Milroe. Milroe was the third-string quarterback this past season, inactive for every game from early October through the Seahawks’ Super Bowl win last month. He had specialized, cameo roles in three games for Kubiak, rushing once in each game for a total of 4 yards.
“He improved every week,” general manager John Schneider said Feb. 24 at the combine and Indianapolis. “He was there at like 5 o’clock in the morning, working his tail off.
“Me, personally, I was very excited. I know the coaching staff was excited (to have Milroe).”
New Seahawks offensive coordinator Brian Fleury is on track to have Milroe again behind Pro Bowl starter Sam Darnold and veteran backup Drew Lock, whose in 2026 will be in the second season of a two-year contract.
Lock told The News Tribune at the Super Bowl his intention was to return next season, and hopes the Seahawks’ want that, too.
Smith will be looking for a new job for his 36-year-old season this summer into fall. Already, rumors are the needy Minnesota Vikings may inquire about signing Smith.
Yes, the same Vikings who, after Darnold went 14-3 with 4,500 yards passing for them in 2024, let Darnold leave in free agency to sign with Seattle on a three-year, $100.5 million contract before last season.
The same Vikings who joined the Raiders in watching Darnold win the Super Bowl with the Seahawks four weeks ago.