Last season, Smith threw for 4,320 yards and 21 touchdowns with 15 interceptions as the Seahawks went 10-7 and missed the NFC playoffs. Team officials had said they planned to retain him, but now they must find a new starter as the NFL’s veteran quarterback reshuffling begins.
Sam Darnold, Wilson, Justin Fields and Daniel Jones are among the quarterbacks eligible for unrestricted free agency next week. The NFL’s two-day free agent negotiating period begins Monday. That’s when free agents can begin negotiating with other teams, solely through their agents. Any deals they might line up cannot be official until Wednesday.
The Minnesota Vikings declined to use their franchise-player tag to limit Darnold’s free agent mobility but appear interested in attempting to re-sign him. Wilson and Fields spent last season with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Jones, the former Giants starter, finished the season as a Vikings reserve.
The Jets have said they will part ways with Aaron Rodgers and presumably will release him. The Atlanta Falcons could trade or release Kirk Cousins after he lost the team’s starting job late last season to rookie Michael Penix Jr.
When Stafford wasn’t traded, the Raiders were left to regroup. There had been speculation that they might sign Wilson as a free agent to reunite him with Carroll. They spent 10 seasons together in Seattle, in which Wilson was selected to nine Pro Bowls and the Seahawks reached two Super Bowls, winning one of them.
Instead, Carroll’s reunion will come with Smith as the Raiders attempt to rebuild from a 4-13 season. The NFL’s team owners approved Brady’s deal for part-ownership of the franchise in October, and he has taken an active role in team operations.
