The Las Vegas Raiders secured their quarterback for the long term by trading a third-round pick to the Seattle Seahawks for veteran star. After thriving under Pete Carroll in Seattle, he represents a clear upgrade at quarterback for Las Vegas.
There was still the matter of his contract, as he was entering the final year of his deal and set to hit free agency next offseason. But the Raiders didn’t let it get that far.
Per Jordan Schultz of Bleacher Report, Las Vegas and top star have agreed to a two-year extension that keeps him under contract through the 2027 season.
By extending him, the Raiders made it clear they view him as their long-term solution at quarterback. Despite being 34, Smith still has plenty of mileage left, especially considering he played in just 15 games—with only five starts—between 2015 and 2021.
His career took a dramatic turn in 2022, when he broke out and earned NFL Comeback Player of the Year honors. Smith credited former Seahawks coach Pete Carroll for helping restore his confidence. Since then, he’s been one of the league’s most efficient quarterbacks, earning Pro Bowl nods in both 2022 and 2023 while racking up 12,226 passing yards and 71 touchdowns over the last three seasons.
Now that Smith is secured through 2027, the Raiders can shift their attention to strengthening the rest of the roster in hopes of climbing out of the cellar and re-entering the playoff picture.
Raiders to meet with Texas QB Quinn Ewers for pre-draft visit
While the Raiders have committed to Geno Smith, they could still target a quarterback in the upcoming NFL Draft with an eye toward the future. One intriguing option is Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers, and Las Vegas is doing its homework.
The Raiders were among the teams that met with Ewers after his Pro Day in Austin, and he’s also set to visit the team in Las Vegas as part of his pre-draft schedule. Ewers is coming off a strong season, completing 65.8% of his passes for 3,472 yards and 31 touchdowns.