Geno Smith, the starting quarterback for the Las Vegas Raiders, has encountered significant challenges this season, culminating in a disappointing performance against the Dallas Cowboys. In that match, he was able to get his thirteenth pick of the season. This achievement had him in a dead heat with Tua Tagovailoa for the most interceptions in the league. Smith’s difficulties have raised questions about his future as the team’s quarterback, especially given his record-setting number of interceptions for a Raiders quarterback through the first ten games of a season in the last 30 years.
In the Raiders’ 33-16 loss to the Cowboys, Smith went 27-42. He finished with 238 yards passing and one touchdown for a passer rating of 77.3. His impressive performance was tainted by being sacked four times and facing pressure on over a third (16 of his 49) of his dropbacks. The offensive line struggled, featuring backup left tackle Stone Forsythe and backup center Will Putnam, further complicating Smith’s ability to execute plays effectively.
Smith’s interception came in the second quarter when he attempted to force a pass to tight end Brock Bowers downfield. This decision illustrated the challenges he’s encountered in making good decisions with haste. Now, at 35 years old, Smith is quickly heating up in terms of his performance on the field, as well as off of it. He’s battling injuries that have sapped his explosiveness.
“For me, again, I just gotta play better. I keep saying this, if something doesn’t look right out there, blame it on me,” – Geno Smith
Despite the mounting criticism, head coach Pete Carroll expressed unwavering support for Smith, emphasizing the need for the team to bolster their quarterback’s performance through improved protection and support. Carroll stated, “We just got to help him out more, got to protect him better,” reiterating his belief in Smith’s capabilities.
Smith’s current statistics are less than stellar. He currently sits 29th in passer rating at 80.9 and an even worse 31st in QBR at 32.6. He’s now the number two behind No. 2, New York Jets QB Zach Wilson. Fields was just recently benched in favor of Tyrod Taylor after he had a shaky 2023 season. The Raiders are in a Catch-22 situation. That’s not nothing, but by their current record, they only have an 8.9% chance of landing the top pick in the 2026 NFL Draft and a 62.5% chance of drafting within the top five.
From a financial standpoint, though, Smith’s contract makes it a little murkier whether or not he returns. He signed a two-year, $75 million extension immediately after his trade from the Seattle Seahawks. At this point, he has a dead cap hit of $18.5 million, but there’s no more guaranteed money on his deal after 2026. On top of that, these factors join together to create a rocky outlook not only for Smith but for the Raiders moving forward.
“I continue to really believe in him,” – Pete Carroll
As backup quarterback Aidan O’Connell prepares for a return from the injured reserve list, concerns about Smith’s performance may intensify. With each game presenting new challenges and scrutiny from fans and analysts alike, Smith knows that improvement must come swiftly to secure his position as the franchise’s starting quarterback.
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