Deciding to try and improve on a depth chart topped by Aidan O’Connell at quarterback this offseason, the Raiders’ new leadership opted to trade for former Seahawks veteran Geno Smith. Las Vegas wasn’t done there as they were reportedly interested in trading for a backup quarterback, as well, per Vic Tafur of The Athletic. 
The day after the Raiders acquired Smith, reports claimed that the team could still potentially draft a quarterback in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft. While that seems less likely after Smith’s two-year extension, it became clear that Vegas was not through addressing the quarterback position.
According to Tafur, after news that the team was still considering a first-round passer, the Raiders were in trade talks for former Patriots backup quarterback Joe Milton. A sixth-round rookie out of Tennessee last year, Milton served as a third-string and scout team quarterback for much of the season behind Drake Maye and Jacoby Brissett. Milton felt like insurance in case Maye didn’t pan out early, but Maye showed decent promise in 2024.
While most of Milton’s impact came on the practice field, he got to play some significant snaps in the team’s season finale. Milton impressed by completing 76 percent of his passes for 241 yards and a touchdown, adding 16 yards and a score on the ground, as well. Milton’s impressive showing drew interest from across the league, and while it sounds like Las Vegas was seriously in the running, Dallas ended up acquiring the second-year backup.
After failing to bring Milton in, the Raiders are still considered a team likely to pursue a passer at some point in the draft. General manager John Spytek confirmed as much, telling Raiders columnist Paul Gutierrez that they “remain open-minded…to the most important position in sports.” The team has all seven of their original draft picks, as well as two additional sixth-rounders, so there will be several opportunities to target a new passer.
It will be interesting to see who has more pull in the draft room next week in Las Vegas: veteran head coach Pete Carroll or the rookie general manager. According to another quote provided from Gutierrez, neither seems to have final say over the other Carroll said they would “work it out,” while Spytek added that “if there’s no consensus, (they) probably don’t take him.”