For the first time this season, the Las Vegas Raiders have a clear path to the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. According to Tankathon, the only team ahead of them in the projected draft order is the New York Giants, which the Raiders play in Week 17.
However, even one more win this season likely kills only hopes of getting the top pick. During the Week 14 loss to the Denver Broncos, starting quarterback Geno Smith had to leave the game early due to a shoulder injury.
Kenny Pickett is the backup, and while he looked good on one touchdown drive against the Broncos, it’s a lot different when it’s not garbage time and a team has a whole week to gameplan for you. Smith has proven his toughness all season, so even if he’s not 100%, he could push to play in Week 15 against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Brad Gagnon of Bleacher Report went through every team and detailed their nightmare scenario for the rest of the season. The Raiders’ directly involved Smith returning from injury.
“Geno Smith returns from injury and plays just well enough to steal another win or two, knocking the Raiders out of the race for the No. 1 pick and tempting them to consider rolling into 2026 with a quarterback who’s simply a waste of time,” Gagnon wrote.
Pickett Expected to Start vs. Eagles
While the Raiders aren’t trying to lose, losing out would almost certainly lead to them getting the top pick. That’s the only thing that fans can look forward to right now.
It remains to be seen if Pickett gives the Raiders a better or worse chance of winning, but it looks like we’re going to find out. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Pickett is expected to start against the Eagles.
Pickett knows the team well, having played with them last season. With Smith banged up, it only makes sense to start the former first-round pick.
Greg Olson Talks Pickett
It’s been a wild past few weeks for Greg Olson. He was recently promoted to offensive coordinator after Chip Kelly was fired, and now, he’s going to have to call plays for a different quarterback. Regardless, he likes what he’s seen from Pickett.
“Well, really, he’s shown mobility,” Olson said of Pickett. “Even in college, he did a lot of things there with his legs. So, he gives us that part of his game, maybe, not that Geno [Smith] isn’t mobile, but the ability to escape and run and create and do some of those things.
“So, that’s what we saw, obviously, Sunday, and we expect that going forward, and that’s part of his game and part of who he was as a player when he came out of college.”
Pickett has been traded by every team he’s ever played for in the NFL, but he’s still confident in his abilities.
“I’m confident that I get the ball around the field where I need to and all the concepts that we have, everything that we run,” Pickett said. “Definitely confident in what I can do. Right now, it’s just about trying to steal as many reps as I can with these guys and get the timing down.”
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