Raiders’ QB Situation Hits Rock Bottom in Kenny Pickett’s First Start
The Las Vegas Raiders were hoping for a spark. What they got instead was a reminder of just how deep their quarterback problems run.
With Geno Smith sidelined by a shoulder injury, the Raiders turned to Kenny Pickett in Week 15, handing him his first start since the end of the 2024 season. The result? A 31-0 beatdown by the Philadelphia Eagles that left little doubt about where things stand under center in Las Vegas.
Pickett’s performance was rough from start to finish. He completed just 15 passes for a total of 64 yards-yes, 64-and failed to lead a single scoring drive.
He threw one interception, no touchdowns, and was sacked four times for a loss of 35 yards. The offense as a whole mustered just 75 total yards.
That’s not just a bad day-it’s a rock-bottom kind of day.
The hope going into the game was that Pickett’s mobility might at least shake things up, maybe open up the playbook a little. Instead, he looked overwhelmed behind a struggling offensive line and couldn’t get anything going.
The Eagles’ defense brought relentless pressure, and Pickett never found a rhythm. Any optimism that he might offer a younger, more dynamic option than Smith quickly evaporated.
This wasn’t just a one-off bad performance-it was a confirmation of what’s been obvious all season: the Raiders have the worst quarterback situation in the NFL. That includes teams trotting out emergency options and long-retired veterans. Pickett had his shot, and based on what we saw Sunday, it’s unlikely he gets another one this season.
The bigger issue? There’s no clear path forward.
The Raiders traded for Geno Smith in the offseason and handed him a contract extension that will pay him $75 million over the next couple of years. That’s a steep price for a quarterback who currently leads the league in interceptions (14) and has only two wins to show for it.
At 35 years old, Smith hasn’t shown signs of turning things around-and now, the backup plan has proven to be no plan at all.
So where does that leave Las Vegas? Squarely in “wait for the draft” mode.
At 2-12, they’re in prime position to land the No. 1 overall pick in 2026, and that’s likely their only real shot at finding a long-term answer at quarterback. Whether it’s Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza or another top prospect, the Raiders will need to hit on that pick.
But even then, a rookie QB can’t fix everything overnight.
The offensive line needs help. The playcalling needs direction.
And most importantly, the Raiders need to build a system that can actually support a young quarterback. Because as Sunday showed, plugging in a new name doesn’t mean you’re getting new results.
This wasn’t just a bad game-it was a flashing neon sign that the Raiders are in full rebuild mode. And unless something changes dramatically, the quarterback carousel in Las Vegas will keep spinning well into 2026.