The Geno Smith experiment did not pan out in Las Vegas, as the Las Vegas Raiders appear committed to selecting Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza with the first overall pick in April. The two-time Pro Bowler completed 67.4% of his passes for 3,025 yards, 18 touchdowns, and a league high 17 interceptions, resulting in a 2-13 record.
The Raiders were expected to soon release Smith, who was slated to earn a $26.5 million base salary, $18.5 million guaranteed, an additional $8 million guaranteed that gets triggered if on the roster by March 13, and a $26.5 million cap hit in 2026, along with a non-guaranteed $39.5 million salary in 2027. With a standard release, the front office would clear $8 millon in cap savings, while taking on $18.5 million in dead cap. Due to the offsetting language in his contract regarding guaranteed money, once the team cuts Smith, he likely would have signed for the league minimum with a new team, since the more money he makes in 2026, the less money Las Vegas owes him.
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Las Vegas Raiders do a massive favor to facilitate trade of 2x-Pro Bowler
Las Vegas Raiders, John Spytek
Feb 25, 2025; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Las Vegas Raiders general manager John Spytek on radio row during the NFL Scouting Combine at the Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
The Las Vegas Raiders traded Geno Smith and a 2026 seventh-round pick to the New York Jets for a 2026 sixth-round pick. According to Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated, to facilitate the trade, Las Vegas has agreed to eat $16.2 million of his $18.5 million guaranteed salary, while New York takes on the remaining $2.3 million. Trading teams typically inherit the guaranteed salary, but the Raiders are doing the Jets a massive favor while receiving a sixth-round pick in return.
The Jets and Raiders worked through to get to an everyone-wins scenario on the money attached to the Geno Smith trade—the Raiders will pay $16.2 million, the Jets take on $3.3 million, and Geno Smith gets $19.5 million, more than his $18.5 million guarantee.
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) March 10, 2026