With the Las Vegas Raiders dropping to 2-7, it’s time to start thinking about the 2026 NFL Draft. The team clearly needs a ton of talent, so next year’s draft is very important.
The Raiders have the same number of wins as the team holding the No. 2 pick, but have to hope the Tennessee Titans win at least two more games if they want to get the No. 1 pick. The top pick isn’t out of the question for Las Vegas, but that would be bad news for quarterback Geno Smith.
If the Raiders are bad enough the rest of the way to get the No. 1 pick, ESPN’s Dan Graziano believes that the veteran quarterback will be gone.
“Probably the end of his time in Las Vegas,” Graziano wrote when asked what the No. 1 pick would mean for Smith’s future. “If the Raiders get the No. 1 pick, that almost certainly means Smith won’t have turned his season around and the Raiders could be looking at a lot of changes, including at quarterback. Smith does have $18.5 million in guaranteed salary coming in 2026 no matter what, and another $8 million becomes fully guaranteed if he’s still on the roster on the third day of the league year next March. But because of the way the Raiders handle bonus structure in their veteran contracts, that $18.5 million is all the dead money they’d have to carry on their 2026 salary cap for Smith if they cut him before the third day of the league year.”
Can Smith Still Save His Raiders Career?
The only thing Smith has going for him right now is that head coach Pete Carroll really believes in him. If it wasn’t for that, he likely would’ve been benched already.
Getting the No. 1 pick might also lead to Carroll getting fired, which would almost certainly mean the end for Smith. Luckily, there’s still time for the quarterback to save his Raiders career.
The season is only halfway through. If Smith can string together some strong performances, that would do a lot to help convince the Raiders to commit to him for at least one more season. The team doesn’t even need to be winning; he just has to play better. If he continues to throw interceptions, it’s difficult to see how the Raiders could bring him back.
Who Could Raiders Take With No. 1 Pick?
If the Raiders end up with the No. 1 pick, many are going to link them to quarterbacks. That makes sense considering in this scenario, Smith is likely gone.
However, ESPN’s Matt Miller thinks Ohio State star linebacker and pass rusher Arvell Reese would be too good to pass up.
“Here’s another team where Reese is a dream fit,” Miller wrote. “The Raiders have struggled to find Crosby a good running mate in previous drafts and free agency, but Reese’s speed and power would match the relentlessness that Crosby plays with. Teams have to plan around winning their division, and it makes sense to build a defense that can attack the Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes, the Chargers’ Justin Herbert and the Broncos‘ Bo Nix. Yes, quarterback is a clear and obvious need, but Ryan is right that the defense has to be built in order for the Raiders to win.”
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