A new rumor claims that Tom Brady was the force behind the Las Vegas Raiders’ decision to make Geno Smith their new quarterback instead of pursuing Sam Darnold.
After finding a new head coach and general manager, fixing the QB spot was the Raiders’ top priority this offseason. To many NFL observers, the team was seen as a top contender for the best signal-caller on the open market, Sam Darnold.
However, instead of going after the 28-year-old former first-round pick coming offer a career year, the organization chose to trade for 34-year-old two-time Pro Bowler Geno Smith. It was a surprise decision to some since Smith would not be the long-term fix they needed. It was even more confusing when they didn’t use a premium pick on a QB in the draft.
There has been a lot of speculation on why the Raiders chose to go with Smith over Darnold. Well, this week, The Athletic‘s Michael Silver shed new light on which front office force was the deciding factor in that decision.
“The Seahawks’ pursuit of Darnold snuck up on many NFL observers and proceeded in rapid-fire fashion. While some believed the Las Vegas Raiders would try to sign Darnold, minority owner Tom Brady — a seven-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback whose opinion held great sway — was not in favor of that approach,” a source familiar with the franchise’s internal discussions told Sando.
“Meanwhile, Smith, seeking a lucrative extension from the Seahawks, reacted coldly to the team’s initial offer. The Raiders, having recently hired former Seattle coach Pete Carroll, emerged as a potential trade partner.”
Time will only tell if the Raiders’ minority owner made the right choice between the two veteran quarterbacks.
