It’s clear that Geno Smith has most likely played his last game as the quarterback of the Las Vegas Raiders. It’s possible that the team could keep him to help mentor a rookie quarterback, but his days of being the unquestioned starter for the team are over.
The Raiders haven’t secured the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft yet, and if they fall to No. 2, it’s possible there might not be a quarterback worth taking that high. Las Vegas needs somebody to play quarterback next season, but running it back with Smith can’t be an option.
There are rumors that the Baltimore Ravens could consider trading Lamar Jackson, but that seems like a pipe dream. Perhaps another former first-round pick could be a consideration. Eric D. Williams of FOX Sports reported that the Raiders could have some interest in Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray.
“If (Lamar) Jackson is not a consideration, the league source told me a trade for Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray could make sense as well,” Williams wrote. “Murray’s future in Arizona became cloudy this season with the Cardinals when head coach Jonathan Gannon said he would’ve been benched for Jacoby Brissett had he been healthy back in November.”
Murray Likely Won’t Cost Much in a Trade
The Cardinals appear open to resetting things at quarterback. At times, Murray has looked worthy of the No. 1 pick the team used on him, but he’s far too inconsistent to justify the massive contract he’s on.
The Cardinals can’t expect to get a first or second-round pick to offload that contract. The Raiders have ample salary cap room, and Murray’s exciting playing style could receive a warm welcome in Las Vegas.
If Murray can stay healthy, he’s an above-average quarterback. Now, he’s missed multiple games in four of his seven seasons, so it’s more likely than not that he’ll get banged up. He’s not a perfect option for the Raiders, but he might at least keep the team interesting for a season if the plan is to target a rookie quarterback in 2027.
Latest on Maxx Crosby
A potential Murray deal isn’t the only trade the Raiders were linked to in Williams’ report. He also got the latest intel on defensive end Maxx Crosby. It’s expected that the Raiders would get a huge return for Crosby.
“I asked a league executive if the Raiders would move Crosby this offseason. ‘Probably not,’ the league executive told me.
“However, if the Raiders were inclined to move on from one of the best pass rushers in the game, the league executive said Las Vegas could receive a similar haul to what the Dallas Cowboys got back in a trade with the Green Bay Packers for edge rusher Micah Parsons.”
The Raiders don’t want to trade Crosby, but it would help gain some assets for the upcoming rebuild. The team can’t go wrong either way. He’s a great player who leads the team, but he could also help get them multiple first-round picks. This will be a situation to watch closely this offseason.
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