In a surprising move that seemed unlikely based on everything John Schneider and Mike Macdonald had said, the Seahawks traded Geno Smith to Pete Carroll’s Raiders on Friday.

They got a third-round pick (No. 92) in return – which all things considered was a solid payout. In fact, if Carroll had not returned to the NFL, we doubt there would have been a trade market for Smith. Carroll and the Raiders clearly coveted Smith enough to give up a Day 2 pick.

Here is how it all went down, based on various reliable national NFL reporters:

The Raiders inquired about Smith at the Combine, but the Hawks were focused on getting an extension. Schneider said more than once that they were working on it and hoped to get one. He and Macdonald both seemed very optimistic that Smith would be back in 2025.

But money became a big issue. The Hawks were offering $35 million while Smith wanted $45 million – an insurmountable gap. Smith then asked to be traded Thursday night, a day after DK Metcalf had asked to be dealt.

A few days before star pass rusher Maxx Crosby signed his big deal with the Raiders on March 5, Schneider offered a package deal of both Smith and Metcalf for Crosby. The Raiders were not interested.

The Hawks then came back to the Raiders after Smith asked to be traded and they got a third-rounder for him.

Sam Darnold is thought to be the top choice as Smith’s replacement. He and new Seattle OC Klint Kubiak were with the 49ers together in 2023 before they both moved on last year – Darnold to a successful year in Minnesota as the fill-in starter and Kubiak to the Saints.

Darnold, 27, is seven years younger than Smith and finally found good NFL coaching the past two years, in San Francisco and Minnesota. While he did not play well for the Vikings in the playoffs, he did have an otherwise excellent season. If he is the Hawks’ top choice, it is because Kubiak thinks Darnold has figured it out and can operate his offense.

The question, as with Smith, will come down to money. Will the Hawks be interested in paying Darnold $40 million a year?

If not Darnold, word is the Hawks could look into Justin Fields or even Aaron Rodgers or Kirk Cousins (if the Falcons let him go). Fields apparently is the Steelers’ top choice to re-sign over Russell Wilson (who is not an option in Seattle), but he would be an interesting second option to Darnold. The old guys Rodgers and Cousins would not be good choices for Seattle.

Most have written off Sam Howell after his disastrous step-in performance against Green Bay last season, but Schneider thinks 2024 was not a good situation for him. He said he wants to see how Howell looks in Kubiak’s system, which uses more QB bootlegs and movement. Schneider said last year “wasn’t a good setup for him.”

Beyond the QB question, the next one is around Metcalf: Is he still on the block or might he remain in Seattle? It’s hard to imagine anything changing for him – he reportedly wants $30 million a year and to play in a warm-weather city for a contender with a stable QB situation. The Chargers are the one team that seems to fit that criteria, and they reportedly have shown interest in Metcalf in the past.

It also seems like Metcalf still could end up in Vegas or elsewhere. Schneider’s initial ask for him was a first and third, and most teams thought that was too much. The very least we think Schneider would take is a high 2 and another pick or player.

With the departures of Smith and Tyler Lockett — and probably Metcalf — and expected upgrades coming on the offensive line, Schneider and Macdonald are really reworking Seattle’s offense. It figures to look a whole lot different next week at this time.