It’s official: the Las Vegas Raiders are hitting the “reset” button. NFL insider Adam Schefter confirmed that the team has plans to release veteran quarterback Geno Smith at the start of the new league year next Wednesday.Unless a desperate team swoops in with a last-minute trade offer, the Geno Smith era in Vegas is ending after just one rocky season.
Raiders to Release QB Geno Smith: Salary Cap Impact and 2026 NFL Draft Plans
Last March, the Raiders thought they had found a winning formula. They traded a third-round pick to Seattle to reunite Smith with his former coach, Pete Carroll, and handed him a massive two-year, $75 million extension. The hope was that Smith could replicate his Pro Bowl magic in the desert.Instead, the 2025 season felt more like a desert mirage. Behind a struggling offensive line, Smith was sacked 55 times and threw a league-high 17 interceptions. The Raiders limped to a 3–14 record, Pete Carroll was shown the door, and the team plummeted to the bottom of the league standings.In the NFL, timing is everything, especially when it comes to the “money trail.” By moving on now, the Raiders dodge an $8.5 million salary guarantee that would have kicked in on March 13. While they still have to swallow $18.5 million in “dead money” (basically paying for a player who isn’t there), the move clears up about $8 million in cap space for new head coach Klint Kubiak to play with.The biggest reason for Geno’s departure isn’t just the interceptions, it’s the golden ticket the Raiders are holding. With the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, Las Vegas is all-in on Indiana star and Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza.Mendoza is widely considered the most “pro-ready” prospect in years, and the Raiders are ready to hand him the keys to the franchise on Day 1. With Geno at 35 years old, the team decided it was better to clear the depth chart and let the rookie lead from the jump.Don’t count Geno out just yet. While his Vegas stint was a bust, he’s still a veteran with 98 career starts and a Comeback Player of the Year trophy on his mantle. Teams like the Minnesota Vikings and Pittsburgh Steelers are reportedly looking for “bridge” veterans to mentor their younger QBs.For the Raiders, the message is clear: the past is gone, and the future is under center.
