Las Vegas Raiders normal supervisor John Spytek admitting in the course of the latest NFL scouting mix that he hadn’t spoken with veteran quarterback Geno Smith for the reason that finish of the 2025 season indicated that Smith had no actual future with the group.
There’s now no query that’s the case.
Raiders make anticipated Geno Smith transfer
NFL Community insider Ian Rapoport and others reported on Friday that the Raiders will launch Smith firstly of the brand new league 12 months at 4 p.m. ET this coming Wednesday. Smith signed a two-year, $85.5M contract extension that included $66.5M assured in April 2025. His launch will save the Raiders $8M in salary-cap area.
The StatMuse web site reveals that Smith dedicated the second-most turnovers (18) within the NFL in the course of the 2025 common season. Whereas the Raiders are broadly anticipated to make Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza the primary general choose of the 2026 NFL Draft, group minority proprietor Tom Brady has made it identified on a number of events that he thinks it is “a tragedy” that groups play signal-callers as rookies.
Brady spent practically all of his rookie season as a backup behind Drew Bledsoe.
What this implies for Fernando Mendoza, Geno Smith
A “foolish season” storyline emerged from the scouting mix when it was suggested that the Raiders may commerce what’s going to develop into the Mendoza choose to the New York Jets after which begin Smith by way of at the least the start of the 2026 marketing campaign. Mendoza could also be a flawed prospect, however there continues to be no signal that the Raiders will go on grabbing him this spring.
Las Vegas may at all times purchase a unique bridge choice for the place, nevertheless it appears as if Mendoza will head into coaching camp sitting atop the Raiders’ depth chart.
Because it pertains to Smith, he has been linked with each the Jets and the Minnesota Vikings. The Vikings could flip to Smith as a substitute of Kyler Murray if Minnesota head coach Kevin O’Connell is severe about giving 2024 first-round draft choose J.J. McCarthy a possibility to compete for the beginning job this coming summer season.
Smith nearly definitely would develop into the Jets’ starter upon signing with the membership. He spent his first 4 professional seasons (2013-2016) with the Jets when a unique teaching employees and a unique normal supervisor have been making football-related choices for the group.
