Raiders Cut Ties With Geno Smith After Failed Trade Attempts

One year removed from a playoff appearance with Seattle, Geno Smith's brief and forgettable stint with the Raiders is coming to an abrupt end. League sources confirm the organization is releasing the veteran quarterback barring a last-minute trade, according to reporting from @NFL_DovKleiman on Friday.

The move brings closure to what those close to the situation describe as a mismatch from the start. Smith signed a two-year deal with Las Vegas last offseason after the Raiders moved on from their previous starter, but the marriage never took hold. His performance throughout the campaign failed to meet expectations, and the front office has been quietly exploring all options since the season concluded in January.

Smith's release will clear significant cap space for a franchise that needs financial flexibility heading into free agency. The veteran's contract carried a hefty number for the upcoming season, money that general manager Tom Telesco can now redirect toward addressing other roster needs. Those familiar with the team's thinking say the decision reflects both a financial calculation and a football evaluation that this partnership simply wasn't working.

The question now becomes whether any contender steps up with a trade offer before the Raiders pull the trigger on an outright release. Smith still has proponents around the league who remember his resurgence in Seattle, where he threw for over 4,000 yards in back-to-back seasons. But his market value has clearly diminished after this past year's struggles, and any potential trade compensation would likely be minimal at best.

Las Vegas now enters a critical offseason with uncertainty at the sport's most important position. The franchise holds a mid-round draft pick that could be used on a young signal-caller, though several league insiders suggest they're more likely to pursue a veteran solution through free agency or trade. Names like Sam Darnold and Kirk Cousins have been floated in league circles as potential targets, though nothing has materialized beyond preliminary discussions.

For Smith, the focus shifts to finding his next opportunity. At this stage of his career, he's likely looking for a backup role with a stable organization where he can mentor a younger quarterback and potentially compete for spot starts. Several teams with aging starters could make sense, but those situations tend to develop slowly as teams work through their offseason priorities. The coming weeks will determine whether Smith lands on his feet or faces an unexpectedly uncertain future at age thirty-five.

Source: https://x.com/NFL_DovKleiman/status/2029951542355259471