Fans of the Las Vegas Raiders have been calling for Geno Smith to be replaced by Kenny Pickett in the starting lineup for weeks, and they finally got what they wanted in Week 15. Unfortunately, it didn’t provide the boost to the offense they were hoping for.
The Raiders got blown out 31-0 by the Philadelphia Eagles, and Pickett threw for 64 yards and an interception. As poorly as Smith has played this season, he likely wouldn’t have been any worse than Pickett in the loss.
There was speculation that the Raiders could shut Smith down for the season, considering he’s unlikely to return to the team. However, head coach Pete Carroll doesn’t seem interested in that. Based on his comments, it sounds like Smith will be starting against the Houston Texans in Week 16.
“Geno’s certainly ready to go from where I saw him this morning. He is cranked up and ready. He had a great weekend of rehab,” Carroll said in a conversation with JT the Brick posted to the Raiders’ YouTube channel. “We didn’t travel him so he wouldn’t have to sit on the plane for all those hours and be in the cold and all that. He feels good, and I’ll be able to know more after practice tomorrow, where we’re going with that.”
Should Raiders Bench Smith?
Smith has been one of the worst starting quarterbacks in the NFL this season. He’s also got into it with Raiders fans multiple times.
He’s not helping the team win games, and he’s 35, so there’s not really any reason to keep playing him. As bad as Pickett was against the Eagles, at least he’s a younger player who could potentially have upside.
Aidan O’Connell is also on the roster, and he looked better than Pickett and Smith last season as the starter. At the same time, the Raiders are paying Smith a lot of money and might be against benching him on principle. It doesn’t make much of a difference for the team. The best-case scenario for the rest of the season is that the Raiders lose out and get the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Is Smith Playing His Final Games in Las Vegas?
Smith hasn’t shown the Raiders much of anything this season. There’s no reason why they should feel confident in bringing him back as the starter in 2026.
That said, cutting him would carry an $18.5 million dead cap hit, which isn’t massive, but it is wasted money. Even if the Raiders get the No. 1 pick and select a quarterback, Smith could make some sense as a veteran security blanket.
His teammates seem to like and respect him, so he wouldn’t be a locker room problem. He also has a ton of experience as a backup. Smith wouldn’t be the worst veteran to have around to help mentor a rookie. Plus, he could have some value on the trade market next season if there are quarterback injuries. He’s been bad with the Raiders, but he has enough of a track record to have a chance to start elsewhere next season.
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