‘Immediate fix for us’: Raiders agree to extension with QB Geno Smith

The Raiders got their new starting quarterback when they traded for Geno Smith before the beginning of free agency.

Now, they have him under contract for years to come.

Smith and the Raiders agreed to a two-year extension Thursday worth at least $75 million and up to $85 million. Smith was previously under contract through the 2025 season. The added years put the total value of his deal at $106 million, with $66.5 million guaranteed.

Smith, 34, is reuniting with coach Pete Carroll with the Raiders. The two worked together with the Seahawks for five seasons.

Seattle traded Smith to the Raiders on March 7 for a third-round pick. His previous contract was set to expire after the 2025 season, so the two sides got to work on extension talks.

The Raiders traded for Smith after trying to pry Matthew Stafford from the Rams. They were not impressed with their free-agent options, so they pivoted to Smith.

Carroll’s history with Smith, who was Russell Wilson’s backup for three seasons in Seattle before getting the chance to start in 2022, played a huge role in the Raiders’ interest.

Smith made the Pro Bowl two straight years during his time with Carroll.

“Geno was prominent in my mind, because I know exactly what we’re getting,” Carroll said earlier this week at the NFL’s annual meetings.

Carroll and Smith remained in touch over the past year even after Carroll left the Seahawks following the 2023 season.

“Geno and I have a tremendously long, in-depth relationship,” Carroll said. “I’ve talked to him all throughout this year at times. You’d be surprised how much we were just communicating, stayed in touch. And really it’s about me supporting him and hoping for the best.”

Carroll and general manager John Spytek got the chance to trade for Smith when extension talks with Seattle reached an impasse.

Smith signed a three-year, $75 million deal with the Seahawks in March 2023. He had one year left on his contract at the time of the trade and was due a $16 million signing bonus March 16. His $14.8 million salary for 2025 was not guaranteed on his previous deal.

“Fortunately, Seattle was willing to listen, and John Spytek did his first big-time deal, and we pulled it off exactly in the manner that we wanted to,” Carroll said. “And so, it gave us a great kick start to what’s going on.”

The Raiders, with Smith now under contract for the next three years, can plot their future without having a pressing need at quarterback.

Carroll made it clear earlier this week that Smith’s presence won’t prevent the team from drafting a passer, however.

“We’re building, always. So, taking Geno is an immediate fix for us,” Carroll said. “But that doesn’t mean that we don’t see a guy — there’s some guys coming out that have got tremendous potential, and we’ll just take a look at each spot and the opportunity that’s presented and the choices that we have. But we’re not excluding taking any position at this time.”

Contact Vincent Bonsignore at vbonsignore@reviewjournal.com. Follow @VinnyBonsignore on X.