Raiders Slapped With Grim Geno Smith Reality Check
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The Las Vegas Raiders upgraded at quarterback during the offseason, acquiring Geno Smith in a trade with the Seattle Seahawks.
Smith is definitely better than what the Raiders fielded under center in 2024, but how much does he actually move the needle in Las Vegas?
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One NFL executive thinks that Smith will improve the Raiders, but he also delivered a brutal reality check for the squad.
“They will be better,” the exec said, via Mike Sando of The Athletic. “But I think the whole AFC West has gotten so much better. Even if Geno Smith plays the best he’s ever played in his career, he’s still the fourth-best quarterback in that division.”
Patrick Mahomes, Justin Herbert and Bo Nix are the other signal-callers in the AFC West, so, yeah: Smith has a tough road ahead of him. Perhaps he can finish above Nix if Nix has a sophomore slump, but either way, the deck is stacked against the 34-year-old.
GLENDALE, ARIZONA – AUGUST 23: Geno Smith #7 of the Las Vegas Raiders warms up prior to the NFL preseason 2025 game against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium on August 23, 2025 in… GLENDALE, ARIZONA – AUGUST 23: Geno Smith #7 of the Las Vegas Raiders warms up prior to the NFL preseason 2025 game against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium on August 23, 2025 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)
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It’s also not like Smith was great during his final year in Seattle, either. While he did complete 70.4 percent of his passes in 2024, he threw for 4,320 yards, 21 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. Not the best ratio.
Perhaps reuniting with Pete Carroll will strongly benefit Smith, but it’s important to remember that he turns 35 next month and also does not exactly have the best arsenal of weapons at his disposal in Vegas.
Maybe one of the Raiders’ rookie wide receivers will surprise, and there is a chance that Tre Tucker breaks out. But outside of Jakobi Meyers (who is disgruntled over his lack of a new contract), Las Vegas doesn’t have any truly reliable options in its receiving corps unless Amari Cooper turns back the clock.
More news: Seattle Seahawks Slammed With Harsh Disrespect Before Week 1
It’s hard to imagine the Raiders finishing any higher than last place in their division this year.
Las Vegas will open its regular season against the New England Patriots on Sunday.
For more on the Raiders and NFL, head to Newsweek Sports.
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