Raiders Insider Admits His 1st Reaction to the Geno Smith Trade

Raiders head coach Pete Carroll stated he actively pursued quarterback Geno Smith from the moment he was hired in Las Vegas, expressing his desire to acquire him. While the Raiders considered other quarterbacks first, including Matthew Stafford, the team ultimately pivoted to Smith after Stafford decided to return to the Rams.

Las Vegas Review-Journal's Vinny Bonsignore revealed he initially questioned if Smith was an upgrade when he received a tip about the impending trade. However, Bonsignore has since changed his view, believing Smith will be a significant improvement over Aidan O'Connell and Gardner Minshew. His initial skepticism reflected widespread doubt among fans and media about Smith, stemming from his journeyman career since being drafted in 2013, despite successful seasons in Seattle.

This doubt was exemplified by analyst Warren Sharp's 2025 "Quarterback Tiers" ranking, which placed Smith just above the lowest tier, alongside Sam Darnold and Aaron Rodgers, sparking criticism and accusations of disrespect from some fans. Many outside the Pacific Northwest remain unfamiliar with Smith's successful years.

Significantly, Carroll's strong belief in Smith is well-documented. The Athletic's Michael-Shawn Dugar, who covered Carroll and Smith in Seattle, described Carroll's profound affinity for the quarterback, stating Carroll "believes in Geno more than anyone outside of Geno’s immediate family" and talks about him with deep admiration. Carroll reportedly called Smith "one of my favorite players I’ve ever coached," a notable statement given his long coaching career.