The Las Vegas Raiders’ 2025 NFL Draft Outlook After Trading for Pro-Bowl QB Geno Smith
The Las Vegas Raiders shook up their roster, trading a 2025 third-round pick to the Seattle Seahawks for quarterback Geno Smith. Reuniting Smith with new head coach Pete Carroll, the Raiders addressed their dire 2024 quarterback situation, fresh off a 4,320-yard, 21-touchdown season, Smith brings stability and familiarity with Carroll’s system. Holding the No. 6 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, plus selections at No. 37 and No. 68, Las Vegas now faces a pivotal question: Do they still draft a quarterback, or turn to a running back or wide receiver in the first round?
What Smith brings to the table:
At 34, Smith isn’t the future, but he’s a win-now move for Carroll, 74, who’s not here to rebuild. With $80.8 million in cap space, the Raiders could extend Smith’s $14.8 million 2025 salary into a $40-45 million annual deal, securing him through 2027. This buys time, shifting the draft focus from desperation to opportunity. The offense, pairing Smith with offensive coordinator Chip Kelly’s imaginative play calling, tight end Brock Bowers, and wideout Jakobi Meyers, has a foundation, but it’s still missing some pieces.
Quarterback: First Round or Later?
Smith’s arrival doesn’t close the door on a quarterback. Top prospects like Miami’s Cam Ward (projected No. 1) and Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders (top 10) might require trading up from No. 6, a steep price in a thinner 2025 quarterback class. Raiders scouts love Alabama’s Jalen Milroe and Texas’ Quinn Ewers, both Day 2 talents with high ceilings, Milroe’s legs and Ewers’ arm could develop behind Smith. The 2018 Browns model (Tyrod Taylor starting, Baker Mayfield learning) fits here. Unless Ward or Sanders falls, Las Vegas likely waits until Round 2 or 3, preserving the first pick for immediate help.
Running Back: A Premium Pick?
The Raiders’ 2024 run game (if you could call it that) was non existent, Zamir White and Alexander Mattison couldn’t ignite an offense averaging 18.2 points per game (29th). Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty, a shifty, pass-catching back, could change that. His fit with Smith’s quick throws and Bowers’ underneath routes would expand the attack. At No. 6, Jeanty’s a reach for some, but in the AFC West, where outscoring Mahomes and Herbert is key, he’s a weapon. Free agents like J.K. Dobbins loom, but Jeanty’s upside could justify the investment. Round 2 alternatives like Arizona State’s Cam Skattebo keep this in play.
Wide Receiver: The Missing Piece
Since trading Davante Adams in 2024, the Raiders lack a top receiver. Meyers (1,027 yards) is solid, but not elite. Arizona’s Tetairoa McMillan, a 6-foot-5 target with 1,319 yards and eight scores, screams No. 1 potential. His size and contested-catch ability echo DK Metcalf, giving Smith a deep threat. At No. 6, McMillan’s a best-player-available pick who fills a gaping hole. Texas’ Matthew Golden intrigues, but McMillan is this years best wideout. A trade for Metcalf (unhappy in Seattle) or a free-agent splash remains possible, but drafting McMillan locks in a future WR1.
So Who’s the Pick?
The Smith trade allows the Raiders to build around him rather than reach for a quarterback. McMillan’s the frontrunner at No. 6, his impact with Smith and long-term value outweigh Jeanty’s appeal. Round 2 could snag a running back (Skattebo) or quarterback (Milroe), while No. 68 targets defense (corner Trey Amos) or line depth. The AFC West demands firepower, and McMillan could deliver on it. Smith starts 2025, a rookie passer waits, and the offense takes shape. Raider Nation should be excited over the possibilities of what this offense could do.