Why the Raiders Might Be Wiser to Keep Geno Smith in 2026
The Las Vegas Raiders have been through their fair share of quarterback reshuffling in recent years-stopgaps, short-term fixes, and developmental projects that never quite stuck. Now, with Geno Smith in the building, the question isn’t just whether he’s the long-term answer. It’s whether he deserves a second season in silver and black.
And the answer might be a firm yes-not because Smith is the future, but because he still brings something this franchise desperately needs: stability.
Let’s rewind a bit. When Smith arrived, he wasn’t billed as a savior.
He was seen as a bridge-experienced enough to guide a rookie, affordable enough to justify the move, and respected enough to earn high praise from Pete Carroll, who treated him like a trusted veteran presence. That version of Geno Smith was never supposed to set the league on fire.
He was supposed to steady the ship.
But a few rough outings, some headlines, and a rapidly shifting narrative later, and suddenly Smith’s being painted as a sunk cost-someone the Raiders should pay $18.5 million just to walk away from. That’s not a football decision. That’s performance art.
Let’s be real: if you’re already on the hook for nearly $20 million in guaranteed money, cutting bait isn’t a savvy cap move-it’s just expensive symbolism. And the Raiders have played that game too many times before. They’ve cycled through quarterbacks like a team allergic to consistency, and the result has been exactly what you’d expect: chaos under center.
Sure, moving on from Smith would free up around $8 million in 2026 cap space. But at what cost?
Another year of quarterback roulette? Another rookie thrown into the fire with no veteran safety net?
That’s not a rebuild-that’s a rerun.
Drafting a quarterback? Absolutely.
That needs to happen. But handing that rookie the keys in Week 1?
Not in this environment. Not behind this offensive line.
Not with a coaching staff that’s still trying to find its footing. The fastest way to derail a young quarterback’s development is to leave him without a competent veteran to lean on.
Geno Smith may not be perfect, but he’s still that veteran.
And let’s not pretend his 2025 performance happened in a vacuum. Smith’s numbers may not leap off the page, but context matters.
He’s operated in a system that lacks continuity, behind an offensive line that’s struggled to protect, and within a scheme that’s often felt more reactive than proactive. Despite all that, Smith has kept the offense from imploding.
That counts for something.
Compare that with the weekly quarterback shuffle between Kenny Pickett and Aidan O’Connell-neither of whom has shown they’re ready to consistently run an NFL offense. In that light, Smith looks less like a placeholder and more like the adult in the room.
Pete Carroll’s belief in Smith wasn’t blind loyalty-it was calculated trust. And if the Raiders do draft a quarterback, keeping a veteran who understands the system, commands the huddle, and brings a professional presence to the locker room is just smart roster management.
This team doesn’t need another teardown. It needs a foundation. And while Geno Smith may not be the franchise’s future, he can still play a critical role in shaping it.
Sometimes, the right move isn’t the flashiest one-it’s the one that keeps the wheels from falling off. And right now, Geno Smith is still that guy.