Raiders GM: Geno can throw with the best of them

Las Vegas Raiders general manager John Spytek is excited to have quarterback Geno Smith on his roster.

"Obviously there's a familiarity with Coach (Pete Carroll) and with Geno from Seattle, and really Geno played his best football for Coach there," Spytek said Thursday. "When you've watched Geno through the years, he can throw the football with the best of any of them, honestly. I mean, you watch some of the throws he makes over and over again. ... The touch is there, the arm strength is there."

The Seahawks traded Smith to the Raiders for a third-round pick in March. The 34-year-old spent the last five seasons with the Seahawks after spending time with the New York Jets (2013-16), New York Giants (2017), and Los Angeles Chargers (2018).

Smith took over as Seattle's starting quarterback in 2022. He made the Pro Bowl in 2022 and 2023, playing for Carroll both years. The West Virginia product has thrown for 7,906 yards, 50 touchdowns, and 20 interceptions over the last three seasons.

Carroll took 2024 off after parting ways with the Seahawks following 14 years as head coach. He joined the Raiders this offseason after they fired Antonio Pierce after one season.

Carroll, 73, advocated for Smith's qualities as a competitor, worker, and leader, Spytek said.

"As we got into it and we evaluated the options in free agency, the other players that maybe were available via trade, ultimately we arrived at a spot where we thought adding Geno made a lot of sense for us and upgraded a position."

Gardner Minshew led the Raiders with 2,013 passing yards and nine touchdowns against 10 interceptions in nine starts. Aidan O'Connell (seven) and Desmond Ridder (one) also saw starting nods during the team's 4-13 campaign.