Raiders not sweating QB’s contract, hope to have him for ‘years to come’
PALM BEACH, Fla. — Pete Carroll didn’t want to waste any time in getting the Raiders rolling, so he knew he needed a quarterback he believed in.
That meant once he learned Geno Smith was available, getting him in the fold was of utmost importance.
Carroll coached Smith, 34, for five seasons with the Seahawks. Smith was the starter for the last two and made the Pro Bowl both times.
So Carroll was thrilled when new Raiders general manager John Spytek sent a third-round pick to Seattle in exchange for Smith. He had the reliable quarterback he was looking for. And the Raiders had their offensive leader.
“Getting Geno was a really important part of this puzzle we’re putting together,” Carroll said Monday from the NFL’s annual meetings. “We have a guy that is such a great worker. He’s grown so much through his career, been through so much and overcome so much. I love the way he approaches the game. He’s serious, he’s competitive, works his tail off. And he is a great leader in that regard. He leads the guys by the way he takes to the game. He’s talented. Really talented.”
Smith is entering the final year of his contract. He is expected to sign an extension at some point with the Raiders.
“We’re working on it,” Carroll said.
No panic
Carroll and Spytek didn’t seem concerned Monday about the team’s contract talks with Smith. Both are confident the quarterback will stick around for multiple seasons.
“I don’t really want to talk too much about contracts and negotiations other than I’ll just say we are looking forward to having him not just this year, but for the years to come,” Spytek said. “When we get everything where it needs to be, he’ll be around. And I’m confident that’ll happen fairly soon.”
Carroll even believes Smith has several prime years ahead of him. Smith spent several seasons as a backup after struggling with the New York Jets to start his career, so he hasn’t taken as many hits as other veteran quarterbacks.
“He didn’t get that wear and tear,” Carroll said. “That’s why he moves so well. He runs really well, still.”
Deal happened fast
The Raiders were in position to pounce when the Seahawks indicated Smith could be available.
Carroll was familiar with Smith and Seattle general manager John Schneider, who he worked with for years and won Super Bowl 48 with.
The trade came together in a matter of days.
“Like most things in this league, it came fast,” Spytek said. “A lot of things happened at the combine and then what, a week later we had the deal done.”
The move checked off a key box for the Raiders. They were not going to let free agency or the draft pass without upgrading at quarterback.
“We were gonna look everywhere we can for a quarterback,” Spytek said. “I’ve always respected Geno’s ability to throw it, and then with Pete, his intimate knowledge of the person and the competitor and the preparer was huge.”
Carroll said trading for Smith, as well as extending star defensive end Maxx Crosby’s contract, sends a strong message about the culture he and Spytek are trying to build.
“Getting Maxx signed for a long term to show the commitment to one of the great competitors in the game was one step of it,” Carroll said. “Getting Geno was a step on the other side of the ball, to make it clear we’re not sitting around and waiting to see what happens and hope things will turn out. We’re gonna proactively go after it. … And that is what creates your culture. Making statements of who you are on a regular basis, what you stand for on a regular basis.”
Contact Vincent Bonsignore at vbonsignore@reviewjournal.com. Follow @VinnyBonsignore on X.
