The Las Vegas Raiders found a trade partner for quarterback Geno Smith just before they were set to release him, sending him to the New York Jets on Tuesday in a deal that salvaged value from a failed one-season experiment.
General manager John Spytek swung the last-minute trade, which included a pick swap and gave the Raiders roughly $2 million in additional cap space. The Raiders had been expected to cut Smith as soon as Wednesday, but the Jets stepped in to acquire him before he hit the open market.
Spytek turned what would have been nothing into something, earning top marks for the transaction. The Raiders retained most of Smith’s restructured contract, but the Jets are covering a portion of it.
The trade caps a whirlwind 24 hours for the Raiders, who had a busy Monday signing several new starters as free agency began.
Smith, 35, arrived in Las Vegas last season under coach Pete Carroll but struggled, throwing for 3,076 yards, 14 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in 15 starts. The Raiders finished 4-13, last in the AFC West.
