Tom Brady’s Master Plan: How the Raiders Could Draft Their QB of the Future—and Why Geno Smith Might Be a Short-Term Fix
Tom Brady might not be throwing passes anymore, but he’s still calling plays—just from the front office. As a minority owner of the Las Vegas Raiders, Brady has reportedly had a major influence on the franchise’s key offseason moves, including the hiring of head coach Pete Carroll and the acquisition of veteran quarterback Geno Smith. But the Hall of Famer isn’t just thinking about 2025—he’s quietly shaping the long-term future of the Raiders’ quarterback position.
Although Carroll wasn’t the team’s first choice—Mike Vrabel and Ben Johnson turned down the gig—Brady helped pivot the search and secured a proven leader. On the quarterback front, Las Vegas had its eyes on Matthew Stafford, but when a trade with the Rams fell through, they quickly turned to Smith. The veteran signed a multi-year deal, making it seem like the Raiders had found their starter for the foreseeable future.
However, that may not be the full story.
According to The Athletic’s Vic Tafur, Brady favors a developmental model: drafting a rookie quarterback and letting him sit for a season to learn and grow before competing for the job. This “apprenticeship year” approach hints that Smith might only be a bridge option, paving the way for a future franchise signal-caller.
The structure of Smith’s contract supports this theory. While he’s locked in for 2025, the Raiders could move on in 2026 with a manageable $18.5 million dead cap hit, freeing up $8 million in salary cap space. That’s not insignificant, but it’s a small price to pay if it means transitioning to a younger, long-term solution at quarterback.
With the sixth overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, many are speculating that Las Vegas could take a swing on a high-upside QB like Shedeur Sanders. But the team also has pressing needs at wide receiver, cornerback, linebacker, and on the defensive line. A more strategic path? Use the top pick to address one of those immediate needs, then grab a quarterback like Jalen Milroe, Jaxson Dart, or Tyler Shough in the second or third round.
Under Brady’s vision, that rookie would spend 2025 learning behind Smith before potentially taking the reins in 2026. It’s a long game—but with Brady involved, you can bet there’s a plan.