A call from the top prevented Sam Darnold from landing in Las Vegas.
Las Vegas minority owner Tom Brady persuaded the Raiders not to sign the quarterback, according to The Athletic’s Michael Silver.
Brady “was not in favor of that approach” Silver wrote, citing an anonymous source.
Instead, the Raiders looked to a different former Jets QB in Geno Smith, who they acquired via trade, giving up a third-round pick in the 2025 NFL draft.
Brady liked the way Smith “can process and throw the football,” per The Athletic.
Brady and the organization preferred Smith’s traits so much they gave the 34-year-old a two-year, $85.5 million extension with $66.5 million guaranteed.
The irony in the decision to steer clear of Darnold is that the moves made by Brady and the Raiders still influenced his landing spot.
On March 13, Sam Darnold signed a three-year contract worth $100.5 million with the Seahawks — Smith’s former team — marking the fifth franchise stop in his NFL career.
The deal represented a long journey to a massive payday for Darnold.
The start of his NFL career was less than ideal: the No. 3 overall pick in the 2018 draft, the USC product struggled to gain a foothold with Gang Green, throwing 45 touchdowns and 39 interceptions over three seasons.
He was traded to the Panthers, where he started parts of two seasons before being signed by San Francisco as insurance behind starter Brock Purdy, seeing limited game time that season.
He then served as the backup for rookie quarterback JJ McCarthy with the Vikings in 2024, having an unlikely breakout season after McCarthy suffered a season-ending meniscus tear in his first preseason game.
Darnold went on to a career-best season with 35 touchdowns and a passer rating of 102.5 — and a massive deal in Seattle.