Taking a quarterback in this year’s draft is still on the table after trading for Geno Smith.
After trading for Geno Smith, the Las Vegas Raiders solved their immediate problem at quarterback. However, the Raiders could still use a long-term solution at the position seeing as Smith turns 35 years old in October. That leaves drafting a quarterback in the 2025 NFL Draft on the table, according to The Athletic’s Tashan Reed.
“With that being said, the Raiders’ acquisition of Smith doesn’t eliminate the possibility of them taking a quarterback in the 2025 draft,” Reed wrote. “They’re still considering a quarterback as early as the first round, according to league sources.
“After all, the Raiders knew they were aiming to add a veteran quarterback last week and still met with prospects at the combine, including Miami’s Cam Ward, Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders, Alabama’s Jalen Milroe, Texas’ Quinn Ewers and Mississippi’s Jaxson Dart. According to league sources, the Raiders came away particularly impressed with Milroe and Ewers after going over X’s and O’s and film.”
That being said, Las Vegas is reportedly going to reach a multi-year extension with Smith, so the organization could wait until next year’s draft to get a passer if it isn’t interested in the 2025 class. In other words, adding the former Seahawk at least buys the Raiders some time while they figure out the long-term solution under center.
In Other Raiders Links:
- Long-term solution: Speaking of the long-term solution, this week’s mailbag touched on the quarterback position moving forward and a free agency.
- In-house safety options: “Pola-Mao was the first player the new regime addressed when a two-year contract extension was announced last Monday. So the Raiders have one potential starter at the safety group there,” S&BP’s Ray Aspuria wrote. “If Moehrig were to depart, and Las Vegas didn’t re-sign veteran Marcus Epps, that’d mean a new duo in the defensive backfield as the last line of defense.”
- No interest in Aaron Rodgers: It’s water under the bridge at this point, but Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio reported that the Raiders were never interested in bringing Rodgers to Las Vegas.
- Raiders get B+ in Smith trade: “Carroll isn’t interested in a long rebuild, so it makes perfect sense for him to go out and acquire a proven veteran who can bring some level of stability to Las Vegas,” CBS Sports’ Bryan DeArdo wrote. “Having Smith on board gives the Raiders a chance at being competitive in 2025. And based on how he’s played in recent years, Smith still has some good football left him.”
