Nothing about the 2025 season for the Las Vegas Raiders went according to plan. The thought was that the additions of Pete Carroll as head coach, Geno Smith as quarterback and Ashton Jeanty as running back would raise the floor for the team.
The Raiders only won four games in 2024, and upgrading at head coach and quarterback made it seem impossible for them to get worse. However, that wasn’t the case. Smith played his worst season in years, and Carroll got fired after a three-win season.
The Raiders ended up getting the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, and it’s expected that the team will use the pick to select Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza. That likely means the end of Smith’s tenure in Las Vegas. He was coming off three very good seasons with the Seattle Seahawks before coming to the Raiders, but he couldn’t find his rhythm.
Smith led the NFL with 17 interceptions and only won two games as a starter. Despite the fact that he’s likely one-and-done with the Raiders, Jeanty has a lot of respect for the veteran quarterback.
“Yeah, I mean, obviously, as a quarterback, it gets put on you,” Jeanty told Heavy Sports when asked about Smith. “So, obviously, to have him keep his composure and, you know, just keep playing and keep fighting throughout the season. Much respect for him, always.”
Smith Listed as Cut Candidate
Smith hasn’t even started the two-year contract extension the Raiders gave him last offseason, but it won’t cost too much to move on from him. The team gets saddled with an $18.5 million dead cap hit if he’s outright released.
Matt Okada of NFL.com expects him to be released this offseason.
“With the No. 1 draft pick in hand and a new regime in place, it’s a near-lock the Raiders will be moving in a new direction at quarterback this offseason,” Okada wrote. “It also didn’t help that Smith finished the 2025 season with 19 touchdowns, a league-high 17 interceptions and 55 sacks, an atrocious 84.7 passer rating and what was undoubtedly some of the worst tape in the league (at least according to my eyes). Cutting Smith only results in $8 million in cap savings while sinking $18.5 million in dead money, but unless new head coach Klint Kubiak sees him as a worthy bridge quarterback to presumptive No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza, any juice would be worth the squeeze in Las Vegas. Pete Carroll is gone and I’d be very surprised if his hand-picked quarterback of the past is not soon to follow.”
Why Raiders Could Keep Smith
It’s not out of the realm of possibility that the Raiders decide to keep Smith. As noted previously, they are likely to bring in a rookie quarterback this offseason. It would be valuable to have a veteran on the roster to help mentor him.
Smith has extensive experience as a backup. Also, new head coach Klint Kubiak briefly had a chance to work with Smith last year before he was traded. The two should have some kind of relationship. Smith isn’t the type of quarterback who is going to stir up drama if he’s not playing. Plus, his trade value could go up during the season.
Ashton Jeanty Has Clear Message on Geno Smith Amid Raiders QB Rumors: Exclusive