Ironically, the NFL team residing in Las Vegas was left out in the cold last year. The Raiders weren't able to acquire a legitimate starting quarterback over the previous calendar year and decided that was going to happen again this offseason.

Instead of dipping the organization's proverbial toe into this year's pool of quarterback talent, the Raiders quickly made a move to secure the service of veteran Geno Smith, where he'll reunite with former Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll.

“I really feel so fortunate that we were able to get that [trade] done—[general manager] John Spytek got it done for us—because of all that he brings," Carroll told reporters. "To me, he’s been emblematic of what a leader should be by his habits and by the way he brings himself every day. He’s the first guy out here. He’s the last guy to leave. It’s really important to him that he stands for what leadership is all about. And he’s a good football player, too, he’s looked great in practice so far."

Smith can be the solidifying force the Raiders desperately needed over the last few seasons. At the same time, everyone knows who Smith is as a player. He can help elevate the team but a glass ceiling exists.