The Las Vegas Raiders made a blockbuster move this offseason by acquiring quarterback Geno Smith from the Seattle Seahawks in exchange for a third-round pick. The trade was seen favorably by the rest of the league, and new general manager John Spytek was praised for reuniting Smith with his former coach, Pete Carroll.
However, the tides shifted on Thursday when Ian Rapoport reported that the Raiders were signing Smith to a two-year extension worth $75 million, with a max of $85.5 million and $66.5 million guaranteed. Suddenly, people on social media were not a fan of Smith, especially at that price point.
While one fan simply reacted that they were not surprised with the deal, considering the relationship between Smith and Carroll, others drew less glowing comparisons. One claimed that the Raiders were following in the path of the Seahawks, which, to him, was not a good thing.
They are the new Seahawks. A mediocre team with no direction
— Aidan LaPorta (@AidanLaPorta69) April 3, 2025
Others felt that Smith was not worth the money and that his agent screwed the Raiders over. Another fan suggested that Smith is not nearly the level of quarterback that Las Vegas is paying him to be.
Why are they treating him like a top 10 qb
— Santo (@sn_5713) April 3, 2025
One fan asserted that this deal is emblematic of the Raiders' problems, that they overpay players and make poor roster decisions. Another had a relatively grim depiction of how they feel the season will go in Las Vegas.
By week 8 they'll regret that deal and want him out
— TitletownTalks (@TitleTownTalks) April 3, 2025
The reality is that this deal places him firmly in the middle of the pack for quarterback contracts, and Smith is a consensus top 10 or 12 player at the position. The last time that a Seahawks quarterback, Russell Wilson, joined the AFC West on a high-dollar contract, it was a disaster for the team involved. But this is Pete Carroll, Geno Smith, and the Raiders, so that has no bearing.
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This story was originally published April 3, 2025 at 1:26 PM.