The Geno Smith experiment isn’t off to a great start in Las Vegas, but head coach Pete Carroll has shown no signs of wavering in his support of Smith.
For better or worse, it looks like the Raiders are committed to the quarterback they gave up a third-round pick and guaranteed $66.5 million to acquire in the offseason.
Despite a rough start to the latest chapter of his career, Smith has been saying the right things publicly and on Tuesday he posted a message on social media saying great things are still to come.
“Great things come from hard work and perseverance. No excuses. Stay focused. Purpose driven,” Smith posted on Instagram.
If the Raiders’ offense doesn’t improve in the second half of the season, there will be difficult decisions coming in the offseason.
Smith is tied to the Raiders with his contract for one more season, but his release after the season would only cost the team $18.5 million in dead money.
It’s possible the Raiders could move on from Smith after the season, but the Las Vegas Review-Journal’s Vinny Bonsignore said last week he still thinks Smith will be QB1 in Las Vegas next year.
“I think Geno Smith’s still going to be the quarterback next year,” Bonsignore said on the Vegas Nation podcast. “You’ve got to get him comfortable, you got to get him in a right headspace, because this is probably going to be a two-year deal, even if they draft a quarterback next offseason.”
If anyone loses their job after the 2025 season, former Raiders O-lineman Lincoln Kennedy said on Monday he thinks it will be offensive coordinator Chip Kelly.
“They’ve made no improvements [on offense]. As a matter of fact, they’ve regressed and it’s disappointing because the way these things sort of fall out is that I don’t see Pete Carroll going anywhere for another year, at least,” Kennedy said on the Locked on Raiders Squad Show podcast.
“It’s probably going to have to happen to Chip Kelly,” Kennedy continued, seemingly talking about Kelly losing his job at the end of the season. “Then you’re going to have in fighting from what type of things that Q has talked about. It just hasn’t taken off and they need to be better. They need to be more efficient. They need to give their defense a chance if they’re going to win any more games.”
“This is so disappointing because I’ve never seen an offense struggle with some of the most simple and primary plays. You can’t get a first down on a third down and short. You have trouble scoring from the three-yard line when you got first down and goal. I mean, these things bug the hell out of me as an offensive lineman. There’s going to be some major changes. And the first thing I hope they do is figure out this offensive line. Because they’ve got to piece this thing together.”
x: @raidersbeat
If they are going to draft a QB, then replace Kelley with Brian Daboll, understanding what he has done with Josh Allen and Mahomes would be what a young QB would require.
Looks like next year is going to be a lot like this year except Smith and Carroll will both be one year older.
What great things has he ever accomplished?
The only great thing he has done for himself is sticking it to the Raiders for over 66 million guaranteed and 40 million a year. He set himself and family up for life.
Hey, Geno. Your “hard” work is hardly working.
I don’t care if the Raiders had Josh or Patrick as qb 1, the offensive line and O line coach are freaking horrible. Address that and I’ll bet Geno is a different qb
No doubt about it!