The Las Vegas Raiders were considering multiple quarterback options this offseason, but landed on a trade for Geno Smith. That wasn’t a big surprise, as Smith and head coach Pete Carroll have a very good relationship.
Unfortunately, Smith hasn’t been playing well for the Raiders. He’s thrown nine interceptions this season, which is the most in the NFL. He’s been having a difficult time seeing the field, and his decision-making is suspect.
While he’s new with the team, Smith has been in the NFL for over a decade and is nearly 35 years old. The Raiders don’t seem like they’re eager to give up on the quarterback, but if Carroll doesn’t want to lose the locker room, he might have to make some tough calls.
Kenny Pickett is the backup, but he doesn’t inspire a lot of confidence. There’s another quarterback that Carroll had a lot of success with, who could be on the market. Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report floated the Raiders as a trade suitor for New York Giants quarterback Russell Wilson.
“The primary reason Wilson might draw interest? He’s cheap,” Knox wrote. “With a base salary of just $2 million, he would be a budget alternative for any team currently getting poor quarterback play or in need of a veteran mentor.
“He will also remain the most sensible QB target if and when another starter goes down with a long-term injury.”
Should Raiders Trade for Wilson?
The cost for Wilson in a trade should be very low. He lost his starting job to rookie Jaxson Dart and hasn’t looked like a Pro Bowl quarterback in years.
It’s difficult to see how adding Wilson changes anything for the Raiders. He may not turn the ball over as much as Smith, but he also hasn’t been making that many plays. If things get bad enough to where Las Vegas feels like they need to bench Smith, they’re better off seeing what a younger quarterback like Pickett or Cam Miller can do.
Smith Trying to Manage Emotions
Smith has dealt with plenty of adversity throughout his career, but it seemed like he moved past that with his successful stint as the Seahawks starter. He’s learning quickly that helping turn around the Raiders is a much harder job.
He’s doing everything he can to keep his emotions in check despite the rough start.
“You’ve got to be a mature adult about your emotions,” Smith said Wednesday. “You’ve got to find life outside of football as well. You never want to put all your eggs in one basket. I think a lot of guys struggle to transition after football because we devote so much time to this.
“But this is what we do, not exactly who we are. And so, for everyone who’s dealing with mental health, I would advise them to seek counseling, try to find an outside source so that you can get it out and whatever you’re going through, you’ve got to be able to push through it, man. But you also need someone to talk to. So, find someone to talk to and then do your best to manage your emotions.”
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