Raiders reassert confidence in QB Geno Smith with massive move

Before he signed the extension on Thursday, league insiders questioned whether Vegas would extend Smith.

"They can franchise him twice, so why would they lock into him unnecessarily?" an executive told The Athletic's Mike Sando in a story published Wednesday. "[Minority owner] Tom Brady is not going to rip it up and give him $45M per year. They should go year to year." 

Committing to Smith — who turns 35 on Oct. 10 — carries risk for the Raiders. In three seasons as the Seattle Seahawks starting QB, the turnover-prone passer tossed 11 interceptions or more twice. 

However, outside of Smith, the Raiders lack another quality starter on their roster, which is one key reason they acquired him in a trade with the Seahawks in March. Backup QB Aidan O'Connell has a 7-10 starting record in two seasons with Vegas. 

Plus, new Raiders head coach Pete Carroll trusts Smith, who was a full-time starter for two seasons in Seattle under Carroll.

"When it came time to get it, it was automatic that we would take a shot at [Smith]," Carroll said Monday, via ESPN's Ryan McFadden. "Fortunately, Seattle was willing to listen, and [general manager] John Spytek [made] his first big-time deal. We pulled it off in exactly the manner we wanted to. [Smith] gives us a great kick-start to what's going on." 

The Raiders need a QB who can raise their ceiling after they went 4-13 in 2024. Smith can do that when he plays mistake-free. Over the past three seasons, he has 71 touchdown passes.

Vegas giving Smith an extension eliminates a potential distraction for the QB, which could help him stay sharp in 2025.