Raiders predicted to trade for $68 million target for Geno Smith

Geno Smith was brought in to be the new quarterback for the Las Vegas Raiders this offseason. 

The team traded for the veteran after spending the last few seasons with subpar quarterback play. The hope is that Smith will stabilize the position and allow the young playmakers to elevate the offense in Las Vegas. 

Already on the roster are Brock Bowers, one of the best tight ends in the game already, and Jakobi Meyers, a reliable veteran receiver. However, there isn't much depth behind those top targets, so the team could look to the trade market for upgrades. 

David Helman of FOX Sports recently identified Terry McLaurin as a realistic target for the Raiders. McLaurin is currently holding out of minicamp with the Commanders as he seeks an extension. 

Regarding McLaurin and the Raiders, Helman offered the following: 

But if I’m dreaming up a perfect landing spot for McLaurin, Vegas really sounds fun. Talk about a big swing for a team that hasn’t had a lot to get excited about. The Raiders are already in decent shape for Geno Smith’s first season. Brock Bowers is a star, and Ashton Jeanty should be one soon. Jakobi Meyers is a solid receiver, but Vegas still needs to upgrade its receiver room. Rather than take your chances in the draft, why not ship a pick or two to Washington and lock in McLaurin for the rest of his prime? Make fun of me if you want, but a Raiders skill group of McLaurin, Bowers, Jeanty and Meyers might be the best in the AFC West.

As Helman mentioned, Vegas could be a perfect landing spot for McLaurin. 

The receiver has been one of the more underrated receivers in the league in his career, and his veteran presence would be welcomed in Vegas. 

In 2024, McLaurin was a crucial piece for a Commanders' team that went all the way to the NFC Championship Game. McLaurin caught 82 passes for 1,096 yards and 13 touchdowns. The veteran earned the second Pro Bowl selection of his career and surpassed 1,000 yards for the fifth-consecutive season. 

In Vegas, McLaurin would give the Raiders a No. 1-caliber receiver to pair with Bowers and Meyers. The team would certainly feel better about having McLaurin as a starter than Tre Tucker or Dont'e Thornton Sr. 

Spotrac projects McLaurin to land a new deal worth $31.1 million annually, so the Raiders would have to be comfortable parting with draft capital and a ton of money to land the veteran.