The Raiders plan to release QB Geno Smith at the start of the new league year next week, according to multiple reports. Vegas tried to find a trade partner but unsurprisingly found no suitors. Smith was set to count $40 million against the 2026 cap. His release will save the Raiders $8 million.
Smith was on his way out of town as soon as Vegas locked up the No. 1 pick in this spring's draft. Barring something crazy happening between now and April 23, Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza will be a Raider -- and the team's likely Week 1 starter.
TIP
See where Mendoza lands in our dynasty rookie rankings.
Smith, meanwhile, hits the open market coming off an ugly 2025. He completed 67% of his passes but averaged just 6.8 yards per attempt, threw a league-most 17 INTs, and took a league-high 55 sacks.
A porous Raiders offensive line did Smith no favors. And it's worth remembering that he turned in three strong seasons for Seattle across 2022-2024. But we're not overly optimistic about a bounce-back in 2026 considering he turns 36 in October.
We'll see where Smith lands and what level of contract he gets in free agency. But he's not worth a pick in best-ball drafts right now.
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