The Las Vegas Raiders are making a change as the team moves closer to selecting Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza in the 2026 NFL Draft. The team is releasing starting quarterback Geno Smith.
Videos by FanBuzz
ESPN's Adam Schefter reported the news on Friday morning. He noted that the move will take place, barring a trade, before the start of the new league year, which begins on Wednesday. This will open up $8 million in salary cap space.
However, the move will come at a cost. The Raiders signed Geno Smith to a two-year, $75 million deal ahead of the 2025 season. Releasing him now means that the team will take on $18.5 million in dead cap.
Photo credit: Getty Images
This financial situation benefits any team needing a veteran quarterback for a competition. They would likely only have to pay Smith the veteran minimum of $1.3 million because the Raiders already guaranteed the $18.5 million.
A former second-round pick of the New York Jets in 2013, Smith began his career in the AFC East. He served as the starting quarterback in 2013 and 2014. He lost his role due to injuries (broken jaw, torn ACL) and due to Ryan Fitzpatrick taking over as the starter.
Smith spent 2017 as a backup for the New York Giants and 2018 as a backup for the Los Angeles Chargers. He then joined the Seattle Seahawks in 2019 and remained the backup for three seasons. Though he started three games in 2021 due to an injury to Russell Wilson.
The 2022 season marked a change for Smith. He won the starting job after the NFC West team traded Wilson to the Denver Broncos. Smith then delivered a Pro Bowl campaign while throwing for 4,282 yards, 30 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. He started his first career playoff game, a loss to the rival San Francisco 49ers.
Smith spent two more seasons with the Seattle Seahawks. He went 8-7 as a starter in 2023 and 10-7 as a starter in 2024. He then followed Pete Carroll to Nevada as the Super Bowl-winning coach took over the Las Vegas Raiders.
This lone year in Nevada did not lead to success. The team struggled overall as Smith went 2-13 as a starter. He led the league with 17 interceptions. He did not have star tight end Brock Bowers for five games. He did not have top receiver Jakobi Meyers for 10 games.
Smith will now likely get another opportunity to compete for a starting job. The Las Vegas Raiders, however, will move forward and try to find the quarterback of the future in the NFL Draft.
