geno smith
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Las Vegas Raiders QB Geno Smith.
Much of the focus surrounding the Las Vegas Raiders right now has been about Maxx Crosby’s future, but there are other players who might not be back with the team. Quarterback Geno Smith is coming off a disappointing debut season with the franchise, and with the Raiders having the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, it is expected that they will draft a quarterback.
Though cutting him carries an $18.5 million dead cap hit, the Raiders might feel like it’s best to get Smith out of the building. The team just got their next coaching staff in place, so they’re still in the process of figuring things out.
Klint Kubiak has a bit of experience with Smith, as the two worked together briefly when they were both with the Seattle Seahawks last offseason. Ultimately, it sounds like general manager John Spytek will let the coaching staff decide if they want to keep Smith or cut him.
“The contract predicates that a little bit,” Spytek said of Smith’s future during a Tuesday press conference. “And so, Klint and the staff are just getting everything together. We’re going to spend some time here and then when we get back to Vegas, [we will] formulate the plan with everybody going forward.”
Spytek Defends Smith’s Season
Smith has a very bad 2025 season. He led the NFL with 17 interceptions and went 2-13 as a starter. He was also sacked 55 times, many of which were his fault for holding onto the ball too long.
However, it’s not fair to put all the blame on him. The offensive line was a massive issue and was constantly shuffling all season. The Raiders also had one of the weakest wide receiver rooms in the NFL. That’s not to mention that the team fired offensive coordinator Chip Kelly halfway through the season.
Spytek made sure to defend Smith, despite the rough year.
“It’s never all on the quarterback,” Spytek said. “It feels like that sometimes. I know Geno felt like that. … We didn’t help Geno in a lot of places, too. I gotta do a better job in that space. He struggled, but it wasn’t for lack of work ethic, trying, or care. I mean, he worked his tail off. I watched it every day.”
Spytek Says Smith Is Feeling Good
Smith is 35, so he’s no longer a young player. He’s getting closer to the age when quarterbacks start to think about retirement. That said, he had a long stretch of his career when he wasn’t playing very much, so his body hasn’t had to take too much of a beating.
Getting sacked 55 times last season definitely didn’t help his body, but it doesn’t sound like he’s even thinking about retirement yet. Spytek hasn’t spoken to Smith this offseason, but says that he’s healthy.
“I’ve seen videos of him training, and I know he’s feeling good, and we’ll talk soon here,” Spytek said of Smith.
Smith could have some value as a backup for the Raiders, but he might be pushing for a fresh start. The team will have to figure out a resolution in the near future.