SEATTLE — Within the largest transfer but in what had already been a transformative week for the franchise, the Seattle Seahawks are buying and selling quarterback Geno Smith to the Las Vegas Raiders for a 2025 third-round decide, a supply confirmed to the Seattle Instances. The NFL Community reported it’s decide quantity 92 of the third spherical.
The deal is predicted to be finalized Monday, the day the NFL’s free agent negotiating interval begins.
The commerce is reported to have come after a breakdown in contract talks between the 2 sides.
Smith is coming into the ultimate yr of a three-year contract that was attributable to pay him $31 million this season when together with three bonus escalators he hit a yr in the past.
That deal included a $44.5 million cap hit for the 2025 season that it was recognized the group hoped to lower drastically. ESPN reported that the Raiders have agreed to tackle all of Smith’s $31 million for 2025.
That deal included a $16 million roster bonus due on March 17 which many considered as one thing of a dealine for when a deal would get accomplished.
The commerce will reunite Smith in Las Vegas with former Seahawks coach Pete Carroll, who took over with the Raiders in January.
Each normal supervisor John Schneider and head coach Mike Macdonald appeared to restate their religion in Smith because the group’s quarterback in interviews on the NFL scouting mix final week in Indianapolis.
“I mean, I’d love to announce it right now, that we’re rolling and Geno’s extended, and we can stop getting the question,” Macdonald stated final week when requested if he had a deadline for when he wished decision to Smith’s scenario. “But you’ve got to respect the process, too. And our guys are awesome. The way John handles his relationships with the agents … man, it’s a lot of stuff going on.”
Macdonald had given an particularly sturdy endorsement of Smith in an interview with Fox 13 that aired on Tremendous Bowl Sunday saying: “Geno’s our quarterback. I don’t understand the conversation. It’s pretty obvious this guy is a heck of a quarterback. He’s our quarterback. We love him. Can’t wait to go to work with him.”
Schneider stated final week that he deliberate to have talks with Smith’s brokers on the mix in Indianapolis. He characterised these as a starting of formal negotiations.
“We expect him to be our guy but we want to do what’s right, too,” Schneider stated on the mix.
Smith, who turns 35 in October, grew to become Seattle’s starter in 2022 following the commerce of Russell Wilson to Denver.
Smith ranks fifth in franchise historical past in makes an attempt (1,749), completions (1,198), passing yards (12,961), and passing touchdowns (76) and set single-season career-highs and franchise information for makes an attempt (578, 4th NFL), completions (407, T2nd NFL), yards (4,320, 4th NFL) and completion share (70.42, fifth NFL) in 2024 whereas changing into the twentieth quarterback in NFL historical past with a 70% completion share in a season.
However Smith additionally threw 15 interceptions, a number of at crucial occasions because the Seahawks completed 10-7 and a sport shy of constructing the playoffs when then resulted within the firing of offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb and an overhaul of the offensive teaching employees.
Each Macdonald and Schneider took pains to not place the entire blame for the interceptions on Smith.
What gave the impression to be extra of a problem within the commerce occurring is a query of Smith’s worth as he turns 35 in October.
Smith acknowledged on a number of events final season he had approached the group about an extension in the course of the low season earlier than the 2024 marketing campaign.
He additionally had stated he felt he deserved to be paid like one of many high QBs within the NFL, doubtless hoping to hit no less than the $40 million a yr vary or so.
The Seahawks seem to have balked at that.
Sam Darnold is ready to develop into a free agent after the Minnesota Vikings declined to make use of the franchise tag to maintain him.
Darnold, who turns 28 in June, made his first Professional Bowl in 2024 when he took over as Minnesota’s beginning QB within the wake of the commerce of Kirk Cousins and a knee damage to rookie J.J. McCarthy, throwing for 35 touchdowns towards simply 12 interceptions and 4,319 yards.
However McCarthy, the tenth general decide of the 2024 draft, is predicted wholesome from his meniscus damage and the Vikings need to flip their QB place over to him for the long-term.
Darnold performed on a one-year take care of the Vikings in 2024 value $10 million. Professional Soccer Focus estimates he may command a three-year deal value simply over $123 million with $70 million assured.
However the Seahawks are reportedly prepared to do what it takes to get Darnold.
And there’s a connection there as Darnold spent the 2023 season with the Seahawks when new Seattle offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak served because the offensive passing sport specialist.
Seattle additionally has Sam Howell on its roster after buying him in a commerce from Washington a yr in the past.
Howell began all 17 video games for Washington in 2023 however performed in solely two video games as a backup final yr, finishing 5 of 14 passes for twenty-four yards and an interception, all in a decisive loss to the Packers when Smith was sidelined with a knee damage.
Smith was certainly one of simply 24 quarterbacks to begin a sport for the Seahawks within the franchise’s 49-year historical past.
However in one more beautiful transfer for the group, Seattle may have a brand new starter in 2025.