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After months of speculation and silence, Geno Smith has finally addressed his blockbuster trade to the Las Vegas Raiders.
Smith, who was introduced to Raiders media on Thursday, made it clear that this next chapter in his football journey is one he's embracing wholeheartedly.
At 33 and entering his 11th NFL season, the quarterback sees Las Vegas not as a last stop, but as a golden opportunity.
"Everything about it," Smith said when asked what attracted him to the Raiders. "Coach Carroll, Las Vegas, the Raiders, the silver and black - this is a historic franchise.
"One of the most historic franchises in all of sports... to say I can wear this helmet and this logo is special to me, but the players on this team - I watched a ton of film on them - a lot of great players on this team and they're heading in the right direction so I just wanted to be a part of that."
Familiar system, fresh start
Smith's arrival in Las Vegas follows a trade in March that sent him from the Seattle Seahawks to the Raiders in exchange for a 2025 third-round draft pick. Shortly after, Smith inked a two-year, $85.5 million extension to stay in silver and black.
What makes the transition smoother is Smith's familiarity with Raiders head coach Pete Carroll.
The two worked together in Seattle, where Smith spent five seasons, most notably emerging as the Seahawks' starter after Russell Wilson's departure in 2022.
That familiarity is already paying dividends as Smith looks to help turn around a Raiders team that finished a disappointing 4-13 last season.
His performance in 2024 was solid, if not spectacular: 4,320 ing yards, 21 touchdowns, and 15 interceptions, while completing 70.4 percent of his throws and finishing with a 93.2 er rating.
Interestingly, Smith didn't credit Tom Brady, who is a minority owner in the franchise and reportedly has some influence in team operations, as a factor in his decision to the Raiders. Instead, he focused entirely on the tangible football elements: the players, the culture, and the coaching.