The Las Vegas Raiders’ 2025 campaign was, in a word, brutal. A 3-14 finish marked one of the lowest points in franchise history-a season that began with optimism and ended in a swift house-cleaning. The Pete Carroll-Geno Smith reunion, once thought to be a stabilizing force, never found traction in the desert.
To their credit, the Raiders didn’t waste time acknowledging the misfire. Carroll was let go the day after the season wrapped, and it looks like Smith may not be far behind. The veteran quarterback, acquired in a trade just last offseason, is now a likely candidate to be moved-or outright released-once the new league year kicks off.
Financially, the Raiders have a few options. Cutting Smith would save them $8 million in cap space, but they’d still be saddled with an $18.5 million dead cap hit.
A trade, on the other hand, would clear the full $26.5 million from their books. The challenge, of course, is finding a team willing to take on that contract after the year Smith just had.
And that year? It was rough.
Smith started 15 games and the Raiders went 2-13 in those contests. He threw for 3,025 yards, 19 touchdowns, and 17 interceptions, completing 67.4% of his passes.
Those numbers don’t tell the whole story, though-they just scratch the surface of a season where Smith led the league in both interceptions and sacks taken. The offense struggled to stay on schedule, and Smith often looked out of sync behind an offensive line that offered little protection.
Still, there may be a lifeline. One team that could make sense as a trade partner? The Minnesota Vikings.
Minnesota is in a curious spot. Just a season removed from a 14-3 campaign in 2024, the Vikings regressed in 2025, finishing 9-8 and missing the playoffs.
The culprit? An offense that couldn’t find its rhythm.
After letting Sam Darnold walk and handing the keys to rookie J.J. McCarthy, the Vikings plummeted to 26th in scoring, 28th in total yards, and 29th in both passing yards and passing touchdowns.
Their quarterback trio of McCarthy, Carson Wentz, and Max Brosmer combined for more interceptions than touchdowns-a recipe for disaster, no matter how good the defense is.
That’s where Smith could come in. Head coach Kevin O’Connell has shown he can get production out of veteran quarterbacks, and Smith, despite a down year, still brings experience and a history of success.
In the right system-and surrounded by Minnesota’s offensive talent-he could be a stabilizing presence. The Vikings still have elite weapons and a strong defense.
What they’re missing is a quarterback who can keep the offense on schedule and avoid costly mistakes.
There’s a wrinkle, though. Minnesota doesn’t currently have the cap space to absorb Smith’s contract.
That would require some maneuvering-possibly restructuring deals or making cuts to create room. But if they can make the numbers work, the Vikings might be the ideal landing spot for Smith, and a way for the Raiders to move on cleanly from a deal that didn’t pan out.
The situation is fluid, but one thing is clear: the Raiders are ready to turn the page. Whether that means cutting Smith or finding a trade partner like Minnesota, Las Vegas is looking to reset-again-at the quarterback position.