The Las Vegas Raiders acquired Geno Smith in a trade with the Seattle Seahawks in early March, and now they are committing to him for a longer term.
The Raiders and Smith have agreed to a two-year contract extension that will pay the quarterback $85.5 million. $66.5 million of the extension is guaranteed.
Smith had signed a 3-year, $75 million contract with Seattle in March 2023, so this is his final season of that extension. He has a $38.5 million cap hit for 2025.
Geno Smith ready to throw a ball
Dec 4, 2022; Inglewood, California, USA; Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) warms up for a game against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
At the time the Raiders acquired Smith, they did so without having a contract extension in place for him. Trading a third-round pick to Seattle for him, as they did, really only made sense if they were planning to keep Smith for more than one season.
The contract extension for Smith does not necessarily preclude the Raiders from drafting a quarterback, but it lessens the urgency they would need to find a franchise QB. They seem to be intent on improving rapidly, which is why they’re bringing in the package of Pete Carroll and Smith, who worked together in Seattle from 2020-2023. Smith went 28-24 in games he started with the Seahawks.
The Raiders have had three straight losing seasons and went 4-13 last season, which seems to have been an unacceptable outcome for their leadership group, which now includes Tom Brady. They want to show marked improvement in 2025.