“He’s the leader we want”: Raiders GM stuns NFL world by admitting bold trade calls — even considered chasing Patrick Mahomes

Las Vegas Raiders general manager John Spytek has revealed just how far the franchise went in its search for a new quarterback, admitting that he and head coach Pete Carroll made exploratory calls across the league — even for players they knew were likely unavailable.

Raiders explored wild QB trades before settling on veteran signal-caller

Determined to reshape the offense under new leadership, John Spytek and head coach Pete Carroll left no stone unturned. Their strategy was clear, pursue every possibility, no matter how improbable. Speaking in a recent interview, Spytek said, “Pete and I weren’t just blowing smoke. We meant it when we said we’d look everywhere for a quarterback. We called teams just to see. I’d be embarrassed to tell you some of the players we probably asked about.”The comments offer a rare look inside the Raiders’ offseason strategy and confirm reports that the front office pursued bold avenues to secure stability under center following a turbulent 2024 campaign.

Geno Smith earns praise for leadership, work ethic, and on-field consistency

While the Raiders explored high-profile options, the team ultimately landed on veteran Geno Smith. Spytek defended the move, calling the former Seahawks quarterback an ideal bridge and praising his leadership and consistency.

“With Geno in particular, Pete has a history with him, and he’s played his best football under Pete,” Spytek noted. “He played well last year too. A third-round pick and a two-year, $75 million commitment — that’s not a nothing pick. That’s real.”Smith, 33, joined the Raiders in March and has since been fully engaged in offseason activities. Spytek highlighted Smith’s professionalism, saying he’s been present for every team workout and continues to earn respect in the locker room.

“He’s the leader we want. He’s always been an extremely gifted thrower. You see that every day in camp.”Despite speculation linking the Raiders to top draft prospects and even unsubstantiated rumors involving elite names like Patrick Mahomes which were never substantiated, Spytek made it clear the team explored every angle to find the right fit.Also read: While Patrick Mahomes dominates the NFL, Brittany Mahomes scores big as KC Current’s value explodes to $275 millionWith the 2025 NFL season approaching, Las Vegas appears to have found a short-term answer in Smith while keeping long-term flexibility in mind. Be it through the draft or continued veteran development, Spytek’s message is clear, no option is off the table.