Las Vegas Raiders DVOA, Stats, & NFL Rankings

The Las Vegas Raiders surprisingly acquired quarterback Geno Smith from the Seattle Seahawks last Friday in exchange for a third-round pick in this year's draft and are now likely to reward him with a long-term contract extension that he was hoping the Seahawks would give him, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. The addition of Smith doesn't necessarily mean the Raiders won't take a rookie signal-caller with the seventh overall pick in this year's draft, but it's probably much less likely now that they've addressed the most important position in football for the foreseeable future. The 34-year-old Smith was a Pro Bowler in 2022 and 2023 in Seattle and threw for 4,320 yards, 21 TDs and 15 interceptions in 17 games last year. He is going from a receiving corps of DK Metcalf, Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Tyler Lockett to Jakobi Meyers and tight end Brock Bowers, so it's a downgrade in terms of weapons. Depending on what else the Raiders do in free agency and the draft, Smith profiles as a midrange QB2, at best, heading into 2025.

The Seattle Seahawks traded quarterback Geno Smith to the Las Vegas Raiders for a 2025 third-round pick on Friday, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Smith will be reunited with his former head coach Pete Carroll as the Raiders look to finally solve their hole at the quarterback position. According to the Athletic's Dianna Russini, the Seahawks are now looking to sign Sam Darnold to replace Smith under center in Seattle. Smith, who succeeded Russell Wilson as the Seahawks' quarterback, threw 71 touchdowns and 35 interceptions in his three years starting under center for Seattle. The Raiders are expected to sign Smith to a new deal, with the veteran quarterback looking to make between $40 and $45 million per season. Smith's arrival in Las Vegas can be considered an upgrade for all of the Raiders' pass-catchers heading into the 2025 season.

Las Vegas Raiders running back Zamir White is believed to be available via trade this offseason if some teams want to take a chance on the former fourth-rounder in 2022 out of the University of Georgia, according to The Athletic's Vic Tafur and Tashan Reed. White had some great moments for the Raiders in 2023 before falling off last year to a scheme change while also ending the year on Injured Reserve due to a quadriceps injury. The 25-year-old was set to take over for Josh Jacobs as the Raiders' lead back in 2024, but that did not happen. White ended up playing in only eight games (five starts) in his third year in the NFL and carried the ball 65 times for 183 yards (career-low 2.8 yards per carry) for one rushing touchdown. He added six catches for 30 yards. A change of scenery would probably be best for White's fantasy stock, but he'd still likely be nothing more than a complementary back elsewhere.

According to league sources, the Las Vegas Raiders have had discussions with teams who have interest in tight end Michael Mayer. The team's second-round selection in 2023, Mayer hasn't had the type of impact the Raiders were hoping for, which is why they took Brock Bowers in the first round in 2024. Not only did Bowers become a first-team All-Pro in his rookie season, but Mayer had only 27 catches for 304 yards and two touchdowns in 14 games in his first year in 2023. He missed six games last season due to personal reasons and was barely heard from as Bowers excelled. It makes more sense for Vegas to trade Mayer for assets, and since he'll be on a team-friendly deal for two more years, there should be several teams that are interested. Mayer was completely off the fantasy radar in 2024, but he could resurface as a sleeper if he's traded to a team that utilizes him much more as a pass-catcher.

Seattle Seahawks general manager John Schneider said on Tuesday that the team will meet with quarterback Geno Smith's agents this week to begin talks on a contract extension. Schneider said there is no deadline for an extension, but also that Smith is "our guy." Smith was better in 2024 than he was in 2023, throwing for 4,320 yards and 21 touchdowns in 17 starts, although he did throw 15 interceptions -- the most since he tossed 21 in his rookie year in 2013 with the Jets. It was good enough to make him the QB12 in overall fantasy points. The former second-round pick in 2013 out of West Virginia has established himself as a locked-in starter in Seattle the last three years, but at best in fantasy, he's a matchup-based, low-end QB1 streamer who will turn 35 years old this fall. He'll also be working with a new offensive coordinator yet again in 2025.