The Raiders are off to their worst start to a season since Josh McDaniels’ first year in Las Vegas (1-4), and arguably the most disappointing player on the team through the first five games has been the quarterback.
The Raiders gave up a third-round pick for Geno Smith in March and essentially committed to him for two years with a little more than $66 million in guaranteed money.
So far, the decision to add Smith is looking like a mistake, and there have been plenty of fans and media personalities calling for head coach Pete Carroll to bench his hand-picked starting quarterback.
It has been clear from Carroll’s comments that he doesn’t plan on sitting Smith anytime soon, but it’s a decision that he’s going to have to make if Smith doesn’t start playing better.
As an employee of the team, Raider Nation Radio host ‘JT the Brick’ has a unique media perspective on the team’s quarterback situation, and he shared his timeline for making a potential quarterback change on his Monday radio show.
“I think you give Geno two more weeks,” JT said on his Raider Nation Radio show on Monday.
“I think you give Geno obviously this game. He’s coming home. An opportunity for a win against a Tennessee team that’s just won, so that ain’t a walkover. Believe me. We’ve all been down this road together. Nobody is a walkover in this league, especially at Allegiant Stadium. We got to win that game,” JT continued.
“And then if Geno bounces back and plays well in that game, then he’s the guy going into Kansas City as a veteran and the team usually plays pretty good in Kansas City, or hard. You got Geno there. If Geno can’t fix it by then, you make a quarterback change. I have no problem with that.”
Carroll has taken some criticism for not turning to Kenny Pickett before now, but with all the Raiders have invested in Smith, the veteran quarterback is going to get every opportunity to turn the season around before it’s too late.
It’s no secret that Carroll was the loudest voice in the Raiders’ building in favor of adding Smith, so the 74-year-old head coach is going to stick with Smith until he can’t any longer. Maybe that will be two games; maybe it will be a month or the whole season.
As for Pickett, it’s worth noting the Raiders sent a fifth-round pick to the Browns for him in August. Pickett doesn’t have a hefty contract, but he is in the last year of his rookie contract.
Tom Brady and GM John Spytek wouldn’t give up a fifth-round pick for a soon-to-be free agent if they didn’t think he has some upside. If Smith doesn’t get on track and Pickett doesn’t make an impression, it might be nice to see sixth-round pick Cam Miller get an opportunity at some point before the end of the season, as well.
x: @raidersbeat
I had missed news AOC was out. We have Kenny Pickett. I Say sit Geno down. 4 games and he has one win. We worn out our defense behind his INT’s.
Keep Geno so we get a top pick
I think that’s a fair timeline. I Just don’t understand what’s happened to him. He looks completely lost out there, missing open guys, taking bad sacks, giving the ball to the other team.
Maybe this isn’t the offense for him? It’s hard to figure. 5 games is probably too early to throw in the towel, but he should at least be subject to the same competition standard as everyone else, and instead Carroll is going out there saying he was solid on Sunday. If I was a young player, working my butt off to get, or hold on to, an opportunity, that would really piss me off, and at a certain point, I believe the players will start to tune the man out.
Geno Smith stinks, he has his whole career. He had one decent fluke year then came back and led the league in picks the next. Then our glorious management rewards him with 40 mill a year with over 66 mill guaranteed and gave up a third rnd pick for a 35 year old neverbeen. Now we are stuck with at least two more years of trying to dig our way out of this mess. Sell the fing team.
Perfectly said
Geno is not the answer, he’s hurting the team and the fans. The turnovers are a big problem, and it’s going to plaque us more. He’s not as mobile enough to get out of situations. He’s leading the league in throwing picks and sacks. We need a leader, it’s already gone to far.
“Tom Brady and GM John Spytek wouldn’t give up a fifth-round pick for a soon-to-be free agent if they didn’t think he has some upside.” Sure they wouldn’t, are you kidding? They wasted every draft pick this past draft and already threw away a 5th for Pickett and because they had to have E.Roberts they are throwing one of the comp picks we should’ve had. Every pick was a reach which is why the return on investment has been terrible. Spy has been a failure, Pete’s been a failure, in fact the entire coaching staff has been a failure. Tom effing Brady has been the biggest failure.
Don’t tell Mark that. The guy finally got it right, just listen to him & his shill Vinny
https://www.reviewjournal.com/sports/raiders/mark-davis-discusses-state-of-raiders-at-nfl-owners-meetings-3345156/