Now that the Seattle Seahawks have agreed to terms with Sam Darnold, it's clear that his interest played a factor in their willingness to trade Geno Smith to the [Las Vegas Raiders](https://justblogbaby.com/las-vegas-raiders-news/). That said, Seattle had to pay a pretty penny to lock up Darnold.
He's going to get a three-year, $110 million contract from the Seahawks, which isn't that steep of a price for a starting quarterback. In fact, the Raiders have to be happy that Darnold is getting around $36 million a year.
The rumors are that Smith wants a contract that pays him between $40 and $45 million. He's considered in the same tier of quarterback as Darnold so the Raiders might have some negotiating power.
How Darnold's deal could affect Smith
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Darnold was better than Smith in 2024 but the latter has been more successful over the past three years. With that in mind, he can make a sound argument that he deserves more money.
However, he shouldn't be expecting that much more. The Raiders may now be able to get Smith at $40 million a year. That's still a lot of money but it's better than having to meet him at $45 million a year.
Now, Smith could still play hardball but he doesn't have a ton of leverage right now. The Raiders only gave up a third-round pick to get him which isn't a massive investment. They also still have an early first-round pick and could tell Smith that they're comfortable going with a rookie after the 2025 season.
It still seems most likely that the two sides will come to a deal. Smith isn't young but at 34, he's still worth a three-year deal. The Raiders are high on him so they'll be motivated to get something done. If they can keep it close to Darnold's number, that'll be a win for the team.