Speaker 1: 0:13

hey guys, john mcnamara host run in vegas. We're talking local sports, business of real estate. If you guys like what you see, subscribe, like, follow us on instagram, run in vegas podcast. And guys, we got a special episode today. We're talking local sports. We're going to focus on that. We're talking raiders and the geno smith trade. Unity basketball they're in the mountain west tournament right now. Unity Football who's going to be the starting quarterback going into next year? And, if we have time, we're going to talk a little spring real estate market at the very end. So let's jump into it.

Speaker 1: 0:59

Las Vegas Raiders the big news this week Gino Smith traded to the Raiders. The big news this week Geno Smith traded to the Raiders. So was this a good deal for the Raiders? That's the question right, when I first saw this I'm going to be honest I was not excited. Geno Smith, that is not. You know not what I was expecting. They came out of left field. I think Geno Smith is a good quarterback.

Speaker 1: 1:31

Part of my thought process was, going into the offseason, the original thing, that the Raiders were really kind of tough. There was a lot of fire around Matthew Stafford getting traded to the Raiders. I didn't necessarily think this was going to happen. I did think that the Rams were going to re-sign him. Stafford was kind of using this as leverage, which worked. The Rams re-signed Stafford and if there was a possibility to get, I think Stafford is still elite, has elite talents, top seven quarterback. If we had the potential to get a Matthew Stafford would have been, in my thoughts, a home run, even though he's at the end of his career. He probably has two or three good years left in him and Sam Darnold was on the market for free agency that was coming up. So to me Sam Darnold is kind of like a B quarterback. Geno Smith was a B-plus quarterback and he didn't have to trade a third-round pick.

Speaker 1: 2:39

Not the third-round pick is a big compensation and the more that I've looked into this, we're going to go through the positives and negatives of uh trading for gino smith. The positives are he has a very strong arm, uh close to a lead, actually great release has a great deep ball. He's rated into the top 15 for PFF over the last three years. He's got experience. He understands the Pete Carroll culture and the big thing is we have Chip Kelly our office coordinator now for the Raiders. Now Geno Smith, where he had a lot of success was at West Virginia. They ran a very similar offense to Chip Kelly's offense that he played in college, which is shotgun. Get the ball out quickly. So these are the positives that I saw with Geno Smith, oh and really loved Geno Smith has a great deep ball as well and really loved Geno Smith has a great deep ball as well.

Speaker 1: 3:49

Negatives he is 34 years old. He's more of a bridge quarterback. I would say he's a young 34, though he's still playing very well for his age, because young 34, meaning he's only been a starter in the league for about three to four years. He kind of played sparingly for the new york jets and other teams in the past. So, um, and he he hasn't shown really, you know, overall like elite top 10 quarterback. So these were kind of my concerns going in and overall I'd love to hear what you guys think.

Speaker 1: 4:20

I think it was overall a good signing for the Raiders. They're most likely going to have to extend him. A big reason why Seattle did not re-sign him is because they were looking around $35 million a year $30, $30, $35. I said a lot of numbers there and Geno was looking between $40 to $45 million. So I'd imagine with this trade is we're going to probably lock him up for an additional two years.

Speaker 1: 4:51

I do believe in Pete Carroll, chip Kelly and most, as you guys know, my favorite quarterback of all time, tom Brady, so I think this is a really top-end bridge quarterback for us to have. He fits very well. He understands, I think, overall, the more I've, uh, been more excited about it. There's so many more dynamics, more than just football, that play a role of this. Um being 34 years old, and pete carroll knows what he is getting with gino smith, and that's a leader locker room guy, a guy who has good work ethic. So, and what's the reality, guys, if you've been watching the Raiders, the culture has not been good for years. The biggest thing that we could really see is a culture shift with the Raiders, and it seems like they're starting to do this in the offseason with some other moves we're going to talk about. So I like the dynamic. I think he fits the system well.

Speaker 1: 5:49

The problems with Geno Smith in the past, too, is he's not good in the red zone. Well, that hasn't been his strength, I should say, and he does make these silly mistakes here and there, which all quarterbacks do. The strength, though is Chip Kelly's offense? Usually the strength is the red zone. They like to run the ball. So the big question is going to be is who is going to be the starting running back? I don't believe they're on the roster right now. I think and we're going to allude to this a little bit later D draft time comes around. There's going to be some great options.

Speaker 1: 6:23

We have a very deep running back in the draft class this year, so overall, I like it. I'm excited. This is clearly an upgrade Since the Raiders have moved to Las Vegas. I think he's better than Derek Carr. He's definitely been better than the quarterbacks we've had over the last couple of years, and I think the reason why they made this move as well is last year everybody was mocking Michael Penix to the Raiders at their pick. What happened? The Falcons traded up for him Would have been a great franchise long-term quarterback. We got a pretty good price, though they ended up taking the best player on the board, brock Bowers, who's going to be a franchise potential Hall of Fame tight end We'll see. It's his rookie year, but by far the most impressive rookie season from a tight end in NFL history. So he has some weapons. So we're going to dive more, though, into defense now.

Speaker 1: 7:21

One thing I really like into free agency is I'm always looking at teams and how they spend their money. Raiders had the second most money to spend, and I always get a little worried when teams go top heavy with players. The reason behind this is NFL is they are deep rosters there's 11 guys on offense, there's 11 guys on defense, there's 11 guys on special teams. So you got to do a good job of how you're going to allocate those funds right, and I really liked what the Raiders did to fortify their defense. We're going to see some other things in the draft. I'm sure they're definitely not done adding, but they've gotten some really good. They are definitely focused on stopping the run that's the one big thing I got out of this and they're getting mid-level guys on good contracts. They're not really overpaying anybody. They didn't sign anybody big.

Speaker 1: 8:18

The strength of this team is the defensive line, which they've spent a lot of money re-signing Max Crosby, which is a huge deal for the Raiders that they were able to keep an elite player 28 years old, definitely maybe our best player in the entire Raiders, but definitely the best defensive player re-signed. We also have some other good defensive players as well, so they fortify the defense. We're going to go through this. I really like the safeties. They added Jeremy Chin. They added him to your deal. He's 6'3", 220 pounds. They signed him to a two-year deal and then they also signed another safety, asaya Polamayo, another big safety, 6'4", 200. Very Pete Carroll right, he is getting size. And then he goes and gets Eric Stokes on a one-yield deal, former Green Bay Packer, first-round talent, who really didn't work out in Green Bay just because of injuries, but 6'0", originally from Georgia Bulldogs and have a great man coverage corner. So we got size to the defensive backs, which I love.

Speaker 1: 9:34

Also, we lost our middle linebacker and they signed a Landon Roberts to a one-year deal. He's an older linebacker Really like this. I'll be honest with you guys. You can get linebackers for days in free agency. We saw with Bond a bunch of linebackers that are really good. Bobby Wagner, who's like 35 and getting 120 tackles every year and it's one of the highest rated. So you can get these older linebackers that are really good at stopping the run on the cheap.

Speaker 1: 10:02

So I liked what they did there to solidify our middle linebacker spot. Also Michael Koontz, who's our edge defender on the outside from Crosby got him one year 12 million. I thought it was a good deal. I was kind of hoping they're actually going to sign him long-term. He's had some injuries but he's been really good off of the edge. I was kind of hoping they were actually going to sign him long-term. He's had some injuries but he's been really good off of the edge. I was kind of surprised he didn't get a multi-year deal, but that was another good signing. So did a good job fortifying the defense Geno Smith. So we got some positive things.

Speaker 1: 10:35

So with offense, they signed Alex Kappa to a two-year deal. He a guard for the Bucs, so they solidified the interior. One thing that a lot of folks don't realize is the Rangers actually really have a good offensive line. They're probably going to be bringing like a veteran right tackle I could see that happening and really fortifying that offensive line. But and the interior and the left tackle are really solid. So they have a good offense line. They they fortified it with kappa and what I really like. And just today they actually uh signed raheem more, more, uh, more. So he's a running back dolphins and uh, he's going to be a great uh backup running back well, so they got a veteran running back in there. I like that because they're most likely going to draft a running back with their first or second pick. So this is what I like to see.

Speaker 1: 11:29

This is what I've been kind of alluding to since beginning of the pod. We have the sixth pick in the second round, the sixth pick in the second round, so we have really two top picks. I'm not a big take a running back early kind of guy and I think with signing Geno Smith and most likely giving him a big extension, I think it does actually make a lot of sense to consider Gentee with the sixth pick. He's a running back from Boise State. He was a runner up for the Heisman. He could bring tickets in. I don't know if you guys saw in the review journal Ticket sales were down for the Raiders towards the end of the year. So I think a big name him, crosby, brock Bowers could kind of get more excitement around.

Speaker 1: 12:16

Also signing a first-round running back. The positive of that you basically have him for five years as long as he stays healthy and you can franchise him. You have a running back lined up for about six years and this guy and you never know until they hit. But he looks like a generational player I use that lightly because I feel like we say generational players every three years at the running back position, but he does have a lot of great attributes to him. With his contact balance, he does have home run speed, he can catch out of backfield. He's a guy the Raiders could really rely on.

Speaker 1: 12:53

Considering you don't really want to just be slinging it with Geno Smith I think Geno Smith's really good. Just be slinging it with Gino Smith. I think Gino Smith's really good. If you could get Gentee and then maybe another running back in the fifth or sixth round as a backup, along with Morissette. Get some depth there. This is a really deep class. You can get guys in the fourth, sixth round that are going to be I promise you will be starters in the NFL someday. So we got to really focus on building up the running back and Chip Kelly typically likes to have two running backs and his offense is about speeding up, spreading the ball out and running the football to open things up. So I think it's a good fit for Geno. You get some running backs in there that they can kind of rely on, versus just being on Geno Smith's arm. I think the offense is going to be fun to watch With a Gentee. Or in the second round you get Henderson or Judkins. It's got potential to be a top 15 offense this year for sure, and maybe top 10. We'll see. We got to see where they draft the other option too and I kind of want to see the Raiders go if they take running back in the first or second.

Speaker 1: 14:12

I would really like to see either a big X receiver or a deep threat receiver that they take in the first or second round. You got McMillan from Arizona. He's a true wide receiver. One X receiver you could plug in right away. He lacks a deep smeed. There's Golden from Texas. That I don't think is going to fall in the second round. I think he's going to be a top 20 guy. He just ran a 4-2-9. Reminds me of a little bit Chris Alave. Maybe trade up for him. He's gonna be a top 20 guy. He just ran a 4-2-9. Reminds me of a little bit chris alave. Maybe trade up for him. We need somebody who's gonna stretch the field, meaning they run. A great nine route opens up the run game. Would love to see them add either one receiver that can kind of do both or get a big x with somebody who can run the nine. So they got some options there. There'll be some receivers in the second round. So Cyber Raiders overall I think they're really off to a good start.

Speaker 1: 15:07

This has, I think, been underratedly the best offseason I can remember of watching the Raiders. There's been some highlights right of Jimmy Garoppolo and Devontae Adams coming here, um, but I think overall they're doing a good job of uh bringing guys. They're going to really build the culture and we've seen this with the Univ football. Not only did they bring in talent, but they changed the culture. And with Pete Carroll, chip Kelly, tom Brady, they want, want to win now. So I'm excited going into the year.

Speaker 1: 15:41

So let's talk a little bit of UNLV Good segue, unlv basketball. So what is going to happen this offseason with UNLV basketball? Now I've been talking on the pod a lot about most likely Kruger is out and it's going to really come down to the Mountain West tournament. Tonight they are going to play Utah State. There's been a lot of talk. I'm not sure what's going on.

Speaker 1: 16:13

There has been a lot going on with the Review Journal this week. First it was Kevin Kroover. Somehow has an extra deal on his contract that has not been released. He got an extra year about three years ago and then the Review Journal comes out with there's a deficit of $20 million for UNLV this week. And then they come out with saying that UNLV doesn't have enough money to pay Dan Mullen after going into the third season. So I don't know what's going on in Review Journal.

Speaker 1: 16:50

Either way and I think a lot of it is to try to keep Kruger's job Not that I think they have a lot of influence with that. To be completely honest with you, I don't think most of us do. Unless you actually have money and you're a donor and you're supporting NIL, those are probably the folks that are going to have the most voice in the house, I think. Unless Kruger hopefully he can do this I think it's going to be very tough because half of the team is injured right now. Unless he can make a run at the tournament and win the win the mountain west to get in the team, I think he would deserve that year. It'd be pretty miraculous, it'd be pretty amazing actually. And if he does not, he has had this position for four years.

Speaker 1: 17:32

And guys, zero ncaa tournaments. That is not acceptable for unity basketball. I'm not buying that. This is a historic program. Nobody is going to games right now. There is any on a good day it's 5 000 people, average is probably like 3 000 and uh arena that's not a seat's almost 20 000 people. They have to find a coach that's gonna win and it's gonna want win now. We can't do this slow build thing. That is silly. They have the resources and the top programs in the Mountain West. At the very minimum they should be competing for Mountain West championships every single year in football and basketball. There should be no excuse of this.

Speaker 1: 18:19

So my prediction off season and what I hope to see is take the Dan Mullen plan let's find an older coach. Maybe it is in 50s and 60s, maybe not necessarily his prime, or I should say there's plenty of people in their prime in 50s 60s. But somebody that has made their money, has made their impact, don't necessarily need more money, but likes the idea of making good money, living in Las Vegas, living in good weather. I think there's a lot of positive things. We have a historic program. Kids will want to naturally come here as well. There is a brand here. So there's a lot of positive things to UNLV.

Speaker 1: 19:06

So you know, like Rick Pitino with St John's, that man, I think, is mid-70s, crushing at top 25. He may have, I think, he won Big East Coach of the Year. He's competing to get into the NCAA tournament his first year at the St John's coach, so it's possible. So my prediction, um, we're gonna see a change, as much as the review journal doesn't like that for whatever reason. Um, but we're gonna see a change for, uh, unilever basketball where, um, I hope kruger can pull it out, if not, I I think. Overall, I think what's been weird about Kruger from previous coaches in the last couple years is nobody liked the other coaches, so everybody's like they're getting fired, they're out. I think most people like Kruger I know I like Kruger Seems like a good guy, seems like he has good values. You can tell that he's trying, he's working hard. Unfortunately there's a legacy here Just hasn't worked out. So we'll see.

Speaker 1: 20:06

Tonight's a big game against Utah State. That's going to be a tough game and then we'll see how the offseason go. And you guys know we love UNLV basketball, so we'll be talking about that on the pod all the time. So, number next we're talking UNLV football. Not a lot going on with UNLV football. It's offseason and, as you guys know, unlv football is my favorite, so we got to talk a little bit.

Speaker 1: 20:34

I was watching the other day. There's a new show that's on locally talking about who is going to be the quarterback for the UNLV. Who's going to win the spring practice Now most likely we're not going to know, but either way we are going to go over the two quarterbacks. So it's Alex Orji from Michigan, big quarterback with elite speed, fast, and then we also have Anthony Codera. He's a slider, build good athlete, he is a good passer, and watching this show and just what I've seen out there, a lot of people are kind of pushing Anthony because he's the passer. One thing I thought was really interesting too watching this show I don't know why this hit my brain right now. They were talking about Haj Malik Williams and how, either way, these quarterbacks are going to be better than Haj Malik Williams. He did a great job last year, so I'm really kind of surprised to even hear this out there. I think both of these guys need to prove themselves to see if they can be better. I think they both have the upside to do that Again.

Speaker 1: 21:47

Review Journal love it. I got to stop reading the Review Journal, it riles me up. Most people are picking Anthony. I'm going to go the other way. I'm going to go Alex Orji. A couple of reasons he's older and he comes for the Big Ten, which is the best conference in college football right now, where they play the best defenses, along with the SEC right, and on top of this, dan Mullen tends to have a quarterback. You know, that's big, that that is physical, that's a good athlete that may not be the best passer, if I can remind you guys, tim tebow, uh, anthony richardson, the starting quarterback of the colts right now.

Speaker 1: 22:34

So my prediction is and I don't believe we're going to know, uh, at the end of spring practice. I think we're going to find out towards, uh, the end of august. To be completely honest with you, it's going to be alex orgy. I think he fits the mold. I think they want to run the ball a lot. They they brought in a lot of big offensive linemen. They're going to be big fiscal. They're going to move the ball fast.

Speaker 1: 22:56

Either way, I've been watching univ football for 15 years. Not one year have I seen a starting quarterback be the starter from day one until the end, either due to injury. Success, not success, whatever you want to call it. I believe both of these guys will actually end up playing, and I don't even know if it really matters who starts off first, because we've just seen this story too many times. Who's the guy who's going to go out there and ball when it counts and that is game day. So my prediction Alex Orji will be the starting quarterback game one and we're going to see a little bit of Anthony at some point during the season and he will have the opportunity to win that job at some point. So he has the opportunity to do it right now. But either way, I like both quarterback prospects, great fits for the offense and I'm excited to go to some UNLV football games this year.

Speaker 1: 23:57

I renewed my season tickets. You guys are out there, hit me up. We'll get a beer before. And just to let you guys know too I don't have full details on this yet UNLV spring football game, I believe, is going to be Saturday, april 26th, which is NFL draft weekend. If you're a football person, I'm sure you got that. You got that Thursday through Sunday already figured out, but there's not details yet, so I don't know if that's going to be Allegiant or it's going to be at the practice field at UNLV, but it looks like they are going to have a spring game. There's been a lot of programs that have gotten rid of spring games. Looks like Dan Mellon still wants to have a spring game. Looks like Dan Mellon still wants to have a spring game. I think it's always good just to kind of get the fans excited. Try to sell some tickets, so we'll see you guys out there. So those are my predictions for UNLV.

Speaker 1: 24:53

Now let's get into a little real estate. So real estate market update. So what are we expecting here for the spring update? We are starting. So what are we expecting here for the spring? So spring market tends to be our best time out of the year and we're seeing that right now.

Speaker 1: 25:08

So a little update and I've kind of talked about this pot before is we did see a pickup in activity after election, which is pretty normal. It's not a left or right thing, guys, guys. It's every four years there's election. Everybody stops buying and selling real estate for like two to four months and then it picks up. So that's not who won or didn't win, that's just about what happens real estate every four years, doing real estate for 20 years, and then we saw a little bit of a pickup after the first, so about the end of January. Until now, we have seen good activity in terms of showings. But one thing we're realizing on our listings right now it is taking anywhere from 10, 15, 20 showings to get an offer. So and this really has to do too with interest rates They've been in the sevens this last couple of weeks. They have come down. I think they're about like 6.7 give or take right now and they're in the high sixes.

Speaker 1: 26:02

So there's a lot going on in the economy. There's a lot concerning the economy, which is fine, and I think a lot of folks associate recessions with that affecting the real estate market. Now, you're absolutely right. A recession, if this occurs, we don't know could affect it negatively or positively. There's been plenty of recessions where people reinvest the money into real estate and it's gone the other way, where we've seen complete collapses. I don't believe, by the way, there's going to be a real estate collapse by any means. I think it's going to be steady, eddie.

Speaker 1: 26:37

We're going to see healthy appreciation, more normalized real estate markets, meaning it takes months to sell homes versus days or hours which we saw during the pandemic. So there is a window. If you're a seller right now, this is by far the best time to sell. It is April 1st to about June 15th. We have about a two to three month window where activity will move up. Then when I say activity move up, I'm thinking five to ten showings to get you an offer right. So that's good.

Speaker 1: 27:14

If you're a buyer out there, this is a really good time for you as well, because this is actually when inventory hits the market. We you know because we have had stale inventory now for a couple of years. So there's positives on both sides. We're looking forward to it. If you guys are thinking about buying or selling a house, hit us up. We'd to help out. Or if you just have any questions, I'm more than happy to answer those for you. I want to be a great resource for real estate and UNLV and Raiders information. So, guys, this is Running Vegas. We're going to wrap it up. I'm your host, john McNamara. Take care of yourselves today.