Geno Smith has a new backup after the Las Vegas Raiders acquired Kenny Pickett from the Cleveland Browns on August 25. Moreover, this security behind Smith is earning praise from NBC Sports analyst Chris Simms.
“I mean, it’s a smart move by the Raiders,” Simms said on “Pro Football Talk.” “I think that’s the first thing right off the bat. It’s Pete Carroll. I think he knows, ‘Listen, I’m not going to be there for 10 years. This is probably going to be a short run here with the Las Vegas Raiders.‘ With his age and all that, he’s not going to risk Year 1.”
ESPN reported on August 25 that Cleveland acquired a 2026 fifth-round pick in the deal, as Pickett will back up starting quarterback Geno Smith with the Raiders.
The trade comes as a result of Aidan O’Connell fracturing his right wrist in the preseason finale against the Arizona Cardinals, prompting the Raiders to act. The team expects him to miss six to eight weeks and plans to place him on injured reserve.
Raiders Were Not Ready to Make Cam Miller QB2
The Raiders invested a sixth-round pick in Cam Miller out of North Dakota State. While Miller has looked impressive in the preseason as his extended outing against Arizona ended with 102 yards on 12-of-24 passing,. However, a good chunk of those numbers came during the final drive in garbage time and not against the starters.
As a result, Carroll likely didn’t want to put Miller in a difficult situation of needing to be the savior should Smith pick up an injury, leading to the Pickett trade.
Like we talked about, Geno Smith going down and everything falling apart, then relying on a rookie out of North Dakota State in Cam Miller — who’s done a nice job, don’t get me wrong,“ Simms added. But we know when the NFL bullets start flying, it’s preseason. You’ve got to get somebody in to handle those situations.”
In Pickett, Las Vegas get a signal caller with NFL experience. Pickett has started 25 of 30 games since the Pittsburgh Steelers drafted him in the first round in 2022. He has thrown for 4,765 yards with 15 touchdowns and 14 interceptions while completing 62.4 percent of his passes. As a starter, he holds a 15-10 record.
Raiders Were Ready to Be Without Aidan O’Connell
O’Connell played two series before leaving in the first half. He was sacked on the opening drive and lost a fumble, but came back for the Raiders‘ next possession. He finished the night completing three of four passes for 36 yards.
When Pete Carroll spoke to the media on August 24 to give an update on O’Connell, they knew that their quarterback depth chart was about to take a hit with the 2025 season on the horizon.
“He fractured his wrist — he’s hurt and it’s going to be a while,“ Carroll said. “That’s a big blow for us.”
Nonetheless, the Raiders acted quickly and now have a proven backup behind Smith should any injury happen. Still, it will be ideal if Pickett remains on the sidelines, as it would mean Smith is healthy and performing at the level Carroll expects from the veteran signal caller.
Raiders Trade for Kenny Pickett Draws Blunt Take From NFL Analyst