When the Raiders traded for Geno Smith in March, they addressed the biggest need on the roster and every indication since the deal suggests Smith is being viewed as the franchise quarterback in Las Vegas.
Whether or not Smith meets those expectations is to be determined, but there seems to be a lot of optimism around Smith both inside and outside the organization.
One media personality that wasn’t overly enthusiastic about Smith’s presence in Las Vegas, though, is former Chiefs offensive tackle Mitchell Schwartz.
Breaking down the AFC West on his podcast this week, Schwartz acknowledged the Raiders landed an upgrade in Smith but believes the hype around Geno in recent months has been overblown.
“They trust Geno Smith and trust is important. Now I think Geno is not as good as people want him to be. I mean, they love the redemption story about Geno, but he just he was good for about eight weeks,” Schwartz said on The GM Shuffle podcast.
“His first couple of weeks, his first couple of months in Seattle… [he] has not been the same player since. But there were no other options. It was either go with no quarterback in year one, essentially, right?”
Since he retired from the NFL in 2020, Schwartz has never been quick to give the Raiders credit, so it doesn’t come as a surprise that he’s offering Smith a little bulletin board material in the first week of July.
Schwartz said he also has concerns about the offensive line in Las Vegas and said he wouldn’t necessarily have drafted Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty until the offensive line was in a better situation.
Since he was drafted in 2013, no team has made a commitment to Smith like what the Raiders did in March.
It’s been a quiet offseason for Smith, but the cameras did find the Raiders’ new signal caller in a trash-talking match last week in Florida.
While coaching the 7-on-7 South Florida Express, Smith got into a verbal altercation with an apparent bystander that isn’t shown in the video of the exchange.
“That’s why they pay me the big bucks. That’s why I get paid the big bucks,” Smith shouted at person.
“That’s why they bring the big bucks to me, that’s why they pay me the big bucks, n—a! I’ll do it. That’s why they pay me the big bucks.”
The game was aired on NFL Network, although the exchange was not part of the telecast.
Smith’s team won 38-21, and it’s a safe assumption that what led to the shouting match was a fan or player on the other team who wasn’t interested in walking away without a few words.
x: @raidersbeat
Raiders came within one blown play of beating the Chiefs last year with Aiden O’Connell at QB. Maybe Schwartz ought to give that some thought.
Mitchell who???..Last I checked he was garbage.. Probably concentrate on the KC chiefs this yr as you got blown out again in a SB.. Hilarious 😂😂😂😂
You’ll have a difficult time winning the division this year
Who the hell is Mitchell Schwartz ?
Never heard of him
I think he was mentioned in Spaceballs. Something about “May the Schwartz be with you”.
I’m not convinced that the Raiders organization Views Smith as the long term franchise QB. At age 35. They do however view him as a upgrade over what they already have, and hope he can hold the job at least for the next couple of seasons. While they continue their search for a younger, hopefully better long term upgrade at the QB position.
Bringing in Smith was so they could avoid having to Reach for a QB in what was viewed as a weak rookie QB draft class.
Geno is not a bad QB. It took him several years to develop into what he is today. But he is still not anything special. The Raiders will regret not drafting Shedeur Sanders. Bet money on it. I’ve been a Raiders fan since I was a little kid in the 80’s. I have F’n had it with them! I’m done!
I been a Raider fan since the team was named one of the 8 in the new AFC. Smith is a bridge, nothing more nothing less. Why not Sanders? Because he and his dad are clubhouse dividers if their baby attitude don’t get their way. Raiders are developing structure, something lost for past two decades. Go Raiders!!!!
Who is Mitchell Schwartz and why the he!! Are we talking about a no name who has been out of the NFL since 2020. Another stupid headline by brain dead raider beat. Are you all high on dope?
I agree, it’s funny that he says Geno isn’t that good but the statistics say otherwise. For instance over the last 3 years he is the top rated passer on throws over 20 yards and has more 4th quarter comebacks than anyone else. If that’s not too good, I’ll take it.
I agree with Walter on this …SYBAU Schwartz who??
I know Geno has a few moments, but generally, he let the Seahawks down he takes sacks way too much . He is very average. Good luck raiders. Glad he is out of town. Your problem now. Haha
Schwartz is a chief ex-player and fan (as he stated on that same podcast). I don’t believe he evaluated Geno in-depth or truthfully. And I also suspect if a player of Geno’s caliber went to the queefs he’d pump the acquisition more than throw water on it. He also said the Raiders gave up a lot to get him, which they did not. He also pumped the queefs because Kelce came back but then criticized the Geno Smith move because his play dipped in the second half of the season, and criticizes o-line (which makes me believe he doesn’t know Jack sh** about our o-line). Now, multiple stupid things just in that short segment: 1) Kelce wasn’t any good last season until a playoff game. So, why pump one team and bc of that player but criticize the other for acquiring an UPGRADE at the most important position for the same **** reasons? 2) no mention of Geno playing behind probably the worst o-line in the league for the past 2-3 seasons, but criticize ours as in he doesn’t trust it. WTF dude?! There other things he said on the podcast that were, in my opinion, pretty dumb and/or ill conceived. I’m done with that guy. I don’t need his crap takes on anything.
Facts. Schwartz is a delusional hater of the highest order
Lmao geno Smith sucks a— and he will either lose the starting job to AOC or the rookie we drafted from ND Geno Smith finally got payed but he wasn’t worth the money I’m so tired of the raiders reaching for a QB but hopefully after Mr big bucks is gone and we find a franchise QB things will get better
Sorry but he absolutely right. His constant redzone turnovers got him run out of Seattle and he will disappoint in Vegas.
Mitchell is right. Geno is not as good as people want him to be. I’ve been one of those hopers the last few years as a seahawks fan. His inconsistency has been a huge problem, and he just never really like that confident in the pocket. He is definitely an upgrade for the raiders. But let’s be honest, nearly anyone would have been an upgrade for them at qb. I still like geno, and I hope he does well enough for Vegas. But I’m glad Seattle decided to move on from him. Because there’s no way he has what it takes to lead a team to a deep playoff run.
There are so many pundits out there with all different opinions. Many say **** just to get some press and do not even believe the garbage they spout out. I just do not pay much attention to them unless they have been known to be accurate and professional in the past.
I been watching the raiders for over 50 years and geno is an upgrade but he is mediocre or average and old for a QB the best QB I have seen at that position were Stabler Plunkett Gannon raiders have a bad habit of acquiring old rundown players you build through the draft selectively and carefully simular like Chuck noll did with the steelers in the early 70s
It would be so nice for The Raiders to return to what they once were and that’s feared on every **** level especially the defense. No one fears The Raiders anymore and it’s because of moves like Geno Smith. From what I have seen of Smith over the years is not what it takes to be successful but the one thing I believe holds him back more than anything is that he’s not a good person and yes I understand I’ve never talked with the man but what happened with The Jet’s and a teammate gifting him a broken jaw pretty quickly let most people know he’s a selfish jerk. I’m hoping for something way better this year but hope can be an absolute bitch let down after let down but I’m coming back for another season like I love taking the emotional beating, it could be worse I could be a Cleveland Browns fan, what the hell did they do to anger the football gods?
Simply replying to a NOBODY is exactly what so many UNQUALIFIED, IRRATIONAL MEDIA IDIOTS want and thrive on. I’m not a Raider’s fan, but firmly believe that they will be much better with the acquisition of Smith as they are building for the future. If coached properly, they have more than enough talent on their roster to over-achieve most people’s expectations THIS YEAR, giving their fans and prognostigators a glimpse of a potential Super Bowl caliber team in the near future. In most people’s mind Geno Smith isn’t a Super Bowl caliber QB, but far WORSE quarterbacks have won the Super Bowl.
Some no name guy hating on a rival. Sounds like a regular trolling ‘Chefs’ fan
Not a bad idea to pump the brakes on the Geno Smith hype train. While I do feel that he’s an upgrade over last year’s QB, I don’t view him as a perennial Pro Bowler. Lately, some articles have been overhyping the guy. As fans, let’s just hope he brings stability and improved play to the position.
I say who care what that bum has to say. And why does his opinion mean anything. He didn’t do anything while playing, so who cares what he has to say. We’ll just have to wait and see what geno does and take it from there. And Jay, you say you’ve had it with the raiders. Well you were never a raider fan to begin with so later dude we dont need you! Me? My blood runs silver and black so you can now stay off our n×=+$ and podcast. Respectfully speaking of course!
You got it my Brother, Fingers crossed I suppose…
Was Geno Smith jaw broke by a former teammate?
I’ve been a Raider fan for basically my whole life, at least since I understood the game, The ‘inside’ game, the moves, the players, etc. Fell in love since they beat The Vikings in SB. Watched them screw themselves over and over. Now missing out on Shedur for Geno…Hope is Fading. They could have gotten Jeanty, then Shedur, But?????? WTF?? Don’t know how much more I can take. Trust in Carrol I suppose. Still rather have Gruden..peace out
Hey Harold , watch what you wish for. It appears that your qb Shedur is at the bottom of the Browns totum pole. Maybe the Raiders could pick him up for a 2026 7th round pick.