The Las Vegas Raiders filled arguably the two most important roles in an NFL organization early this offseason — and they didn’t play it safe.
First, the Raiders hired longtime Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll. Then they pulled off a surprising trade for Carroll’s former quarterback, Geno Smith, sending a 2024 third-round pick to Seattle in exchange. These moves made it clear: Las Vegas is done with rebuilding. They’re done being the team that plays for next year. The goal now is winning.
The Raiders don’t have a Super Bowl-ready roster just yet. But with Carroll’s leadership and a proven veteran quarterback in Smith, the franchise is banking on putting its long stretch of losing seasons behind it. The pressure now shifts to the front office to find the right pieces to build around their new signal-caller — especially on offense.
Raiders Predicted to Pull Off Monster Trade for Brandon Aiyuk
One of the biggest moves being talked about is a trade for San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk. The Niners made headlines this offseason by moving on from fellow wideout Deebo Samuel. Letting go of Aiyuk, too, would leave their offense short on top-tier talent, but the situation is more complicated than it looks.
Questions have surrounded Aiyuk — injury concerns, reported tension with the team, and a big contract. He’s signed to a four-year, $120 million deal, but his availability for the start of the 2025 season is uncertain after a significant ACL/MCL injury late last season. Bleacher Report’s Gary Davenport sees the writing on the wall, predicting the 49ers will trade Aiyuk to the Raiders for a 2025 sixth-round pick.
“Things are admittedly going to get a little boring from here out. But here’s the cold. Hard truth,” Davenport wrote. “Aiyuk is a highly-paid receiver coming off a major injury who isn’t expected to be ready for the start of the 2025 season. If the Niners are able to pull off a trade involving the 27-year-old, it’s likely going to essentially be a straight-up salary dump.”
Last season, the 49ers ranked No. 9 in PFSN’s Offense+ metric, while the Raiders were down at No. 29. Aiyuk’s big-play ability would have a far bigger impact in Vegas, where Jakobi Meyers is currently the top target.
Smith’s best years in Seattle came with a deep receiving corps featuring DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Giving him a playmaker like Aiyuk would be a massive upgrade — another sign that the Raiders are serious about winning now.
