This quarterback trade was canceled after a piece of advice from Tom Brady

Since retiring from the game Tom Brady has gradually expanded his involvement in the NFL and is now reportedly informing key decisions for one of the teams.

The seven-time Super Bowl champion has penned a lucrative contract with Fox Sports to serve as lead NFL analyst, a deal thought to be worth $375 million across ten years. He is also a minority owner with the Las Vegas Raiders and has been advising the front office on player recruitment.

The quarterback position was a top priority for the Raiders this offseason and many had expected the team to target Sam Darnold, probably the highest-rated QB in free agency. However The Athletic reports that Brady counselled against a move for Darnold, and advised a more experienced option.

Under Brady’s guidance, the Raiders front office turned away from Darnold and made a trade for Geno Smith of the Seattle Seahawks. The 34-year-old was a Pro Bowl selection in 2022 and 2023 and brings real NFL experience.

In turn, the Seahawks offered Darnold a $100.5 million three-year contract and he now becomes the centerpiece of their near-look offense.

Last December majority owner Mark Davis confirmed that Brady would be involved in the team’s draft strategy, with particular focus on incoming quarterbacks. NFL Network’s Ian Rapaport revealed a conversation with Davis that made clear that Brady would not be a silent partner in the ownership group.

“[Davis] told me Tom Brady will have a huge voice in the organization when it comes to picking the quarterback,” Rapoport said on NFL GameDay. “He said he has always been seeking someone to help oversee the football division. He told me he believes Tom Brady can do that.”

The 2024 NFL season was a disastrous one for the Raiders. The team won just four games and flicked between Gardner Minshew II, Aidan O’Connell and Desmond Ridder at quarterback.

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