In the NFL, one big move from a team can have a trickle-down effect, impacting the moves of other teams or players. One example: The Seattle Seahawks traded veteran quarterback Geno Smith to the Las Vegas Raiders Friday, with potentially changed the outlook for another signal-caller who had major question marks going into the offseason.

Friday’s Raiders-Seahawks trade has shaken up the quarterback market. As Geno Smith‘s relocation moved the Seahawks into the group of teams needing a quarterback, Sam Darnold immediately became connected to Seattle.

Sam Darnold is not expected to return to the Minnesota Vikings in 2025, per NFL Network. The Vikings recently declined to use the franchise tag on Darnold, who quarterbacked the team in 2024. The rece