Sources: Raiders to release QB Geno Smith, barring trade

Henderson, Nev. — The las vegas raiders Quarterback ready to release geno smithBarring a trade, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Friday before the start of the new league year on Wednesday.

By releasing Smith, the Raiders will gain $8 million in salary cap space while leaving $18.5 million in dead money.

Smith signed a two-year, $75 million extension after being traded from the Seattle Seahawks A 2025 third-round pick. Smith makes $40 million in 2025, fully guaranteed.

The $18.5 million dead salary cap hit is significant, but the Raiders will avoid guaranteeing Smith an additional $8.5 million before day three of the 2026 league year.

Initially, the Raiders hoped that pairing Smith with coach Pete Carroll, under whom he played for six seasons with the Seahawks, would lead to immediate success. His plan backfired.

In 15 starts, Smith threw for 3,025 yards, 19 touchdowns and 17 interceptions – a league high and the most he had thrown the ball in a season since he had thrown 21 picks as a rookie. New York Jets in 2013.

Smith threw nine pitches in the first five games of the 2025 season. He was 27th in QBR (34.1) and missed two games due to injury.

Raiders general manager Jon Spitek said at the scouting combine that he didn’t want to put all the blame for Smith’s struggles on the 35-year-old signal-caller. Spytek acknowledged that he could have put Smith in a better position to succeed.

Smith struggled with inconsistent pass protection. He was sacked 55 times and pressured 194 times. Offensive coordinator Chip Kelly was fired after Week 11, and it ended badly. brock bowers Struggled with a knee injury during the first half of the season.

Nonetheless, Smith’s inconsistency in the pocket led to the Raiders putting together one of the worst seasons in franchise history. Las Vegas finished 3–14, and Carroll – the coach Smith credited with rejuvenating his career – was fired. The Raiders secured the top pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, which they hope to use to select Smith’s replacement, Indiana Quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza.

Still, Spytek doesn’t believe in playing a young quarterback right away. Las Vegas will likely add another veteran quarterback to compete with Mendoza and the backup aidan o’connell.