Raiders make final decision on Geno Smith’s immediate future
Ahead of the 2025 NFL season, the Las Vegas Raiders decided to shake things up by overhauling the coaching staff, bringing in former Super Bowl champion head coach Pete Carroll and trading for veteran quarterback Geno Smith.
Things seemed to be trending in the right direction, but that’s not what happened, as things began to fall apart quickly, leading to the Raiders having an awful. Now, the team is cleaning house once again, with Carroll fired and Smith set to be released, according to ESPN’s Ryan McFadden.
The Las Vegas Raiders are set to release quarterback Geno Smith, barring a trade, before the start of the new league year Wednesday, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Friday.
With Smith on the way out, the plan to build around a young and new franchise quarterback, Fernando Mendoza, seems to be the next course of action for the storied NFL franchise.
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The Raiders have the No. 1 overall pick in the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft, with all signs pointing to Mendoza being their selection.
Smith’s inconsistency in the pocket factored into the Raiders putting together one of the worst seasons in franchise history. Las Vegas finished 3-14, and Carroll — the coach Smith credits for rejuvenating his career — was fired. The Raiders did secure the top pick in the 2026 NFL draft, which they are expected to use to select Smith’s replacement, Indiana quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza.
It remains to be seen how everything pans out in Las Vegas and whether team owner Tom Brady and company can finally right the ship for the silver and black.
