Following a poor 2025 season so far, the Las Vegas Raiders could look to move on from quarterback Geno Smith, who signed a two-year, $75 million extension with the franchise this past offseason
08:00 ET, 17 Nov 2025
Geno Smith #7 of the Las Vegas Raiders looks on prior to the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Allegiant Stadium on November 02, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
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Geno Smith's time in Las Vegas could be up come the end of the 2025 NFL season(Image: Getty)
There can be no doubt that Geno Smith's time with the Las Vegas Raiders could be up come the end of the 2025 NFL season.
Having impressively rejuvenated his career in Seattle after having spent nearly a decade as a backup following his time with the New York Jets, Smith was traded to Las Vegas this past offseason for a 2025 third-round pick. Shortly after acquiring him, the Raiders inked him to a two-year $75 million extension.
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However, what has transpired since the Smith signed that deal has been nothing but disappointment for Las Vegas, who sit at 2-7 on the year heading into their 'Monday Night Football' clash with the Dallas Cowboys. In the Raiders last outing, Smith had to be separated from teammate Raheem Mostert by Kenny Pickett, with Las Vegas falling 10-7 to the Denver Broncos in what was a historically bad game.
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Heading into Week 11, no quarterback has thrown more interceptions than the 34-year-old this season, who leads the league with 12. Against the Broncos, he passed for just 143 yards and was sacked six times in a game that saw him battered and bruised.
Given Smith's play and his age, it seems likely Las Vegas will be looking to find their future quarterback in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Geno Smith was sacked six times on 29 pressures against the Broncos.
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Geno Smith was sacked six times on 29 pressures against the Broncos.(Image: 2025 Getty Images)
However, even at 2-7, Las Vegas still finds itself on the outside of a top five pick, with the Tennessee Titans, New Orleans Saints, New York Giants, Cleveland Browns and New York Jets all sitting ahead of them respectively in the draft order heading into Week 11.
And for Las Vegas to move on from Smith, it wouldn't be too much of a financial burden for them to deal with in the immediate future. Earlier this season, ESPN's Dan Graziano reported Las Vegas would only need to absorb $18.5 million in dead money for the 2026 season to move on from Smith.
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"What's interesting to me is that the contract Smith signed with the Raiders after the trade doesn't really tie them to him beyond this year," wrote Graziano of Smith, who Las Vegas will have paid $58.5 million for one mediocre to poor season if they opt to cut him this offseason.
He added: "If absorbing $18.5 million in dead money next year to move on helps them do that, I doubt it would stand in the Raiders' way."
Carroll coached Smith at the Seahawks from 2019-2023.
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Smith reunited with his former Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll in Las Vegas(Image: 2023 Ryan Kang)
Smith also was not seemingly Las Vegas' first choice to usher in a new era of Raiders football. This past offseason, there was significant interest from the Raiders in Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, who looks to be the favorite to win the NFL MVP award this season.
Stafford met with Tom Brady, who is a part-owner of the Raiders, this past offseason, in Montana while skiing. The meeting was described by NFL Media's Ian Rapoport as "unplanned" and "not extensive or in-depth". However, FOX's Jordan Schultz pushed back on the idea that this was just a chance encounter between the two.
Head coach Pete Carroll of the Las Vegas Raiders talks to Geno Smith #7 during overtime in the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Allegiant Stadium on November 02, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
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Carroll and Smith are 2-7 on the year with Las Vegas(Image: Getty)
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"They spent time together and went skiing," wrote Schultz on X, adding that Brady hosted Stafford at his home. Schultz continued: "Brady has been actively trying to convince Stafford to join the Raiders, and discussions are ongoing."
He also fired back at Rapoport's pro-NFL, pro-Brady friendly line, writing: "If you really think Tom Brady and Matthew Stafford just happened to run into each other at a ski resort in Montana — of all places — at the exact same time, I’ve got a bridge to sell you."