Geno Smith reunites with Pete Carroll, Seahawks reportedly to chase Sam Darnold

Pete Carroll didn't come back for a rebuilding project.

On Friday night, the Las Vegas Raiders executed a trade with the Seattle Seahawks to bring Geno Smith to the desert for a third-round pick. After their failed effort to lure Matthew Stafford away from the Rams, the Raiders didn't take long to set their sights on another veteran quarterback who can help their 73-year-old head coach win now.

As Seahawks coach, Carroll turned to Smith as his starting quarterback in 2022 after the team traded Russell Wilson to the Denver Broncos. Much to the surprise of many NFL observers, Smith had his best season as a pro in his first year as Seattle's starter, completing 70% of his passes for 4,292 yards, with 30 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. Smith earned a trip to the Pro Bowl and led the Seahawks to the playoffs.   

Las Vegas has the third-most salary cap space in the league at $81 million, according to Over the Cap. After the Raiders struck out with a series of bad quarterback options the past two years, Smith should bring some stability to an organization as a bridge quarterback, allowing the Raiders to take a developmental prospect in the draft. 

Smith was in the final year of a three-year, $75 million deal with the Seahawks and wanted a contract extension that moved him closer to higher-paid quarterbacks in the league. He reportedly wanted $45 million per year while the Seahawks countered with $35 million. When they couldn't come to an agreement, GM John Schneider shipped the 34-year-old signal-caller to Las Vegas. Smith is scheduled to earn $25 million in non-guaranteed salary in 2025, and the Raiders will likely negotiate a new deal.

The Seahawks currently have 24-year-old QB Sam Howell on the roster. He has 18 NFL starts