Las Vegas Raiders DVOA, Stats, & NFL Rankings

The Las Vegas Raiders signed quarterback Geno Smith to a two-year, $75 million contract extension this offseason, but it's extremely team-friendly, and The Athletic's Vic Tafur thinks bringing in a young QB in this year's NFL draft to learn behind Smith makes sense. Tafur also thinks the Raiders might trade backup Aidan O'Connell on draft weekend. The Raiders have a clear out with Smith after 2026, as they guaranteed only $18.5 of his $26.5 million 2026 salary, and none of the $39.5 million he's due to make in 2027. Minority owner Tom Brady likes the idea of rookie QBs sitting and learning, and the Raiders will have some interesting options later in the draft in what is considered a down year for QBs. Tafur doesn't think it makes much sense to take Colorado's Shedeur Sanders at No. 6 overall, and a good number of QBs could be off the board by the team's second pick at No. 37 overall.

The Las Vegas Raiders traded for Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith last month before signing him to a two-year, $75 million contract this week. The move reunited Smith back with former Seahawks coach Pete Carroll, a reconnection the two are excited about. "I think there is unfinished business, and I think when people think about my story, you know, coach Carroll was a big part of that," Smith said. "He gave me an opportunity when not many people would have. He saw the hard work that I was putting in, he saw the things behind the scenes that I do that allow me to get this opportunity." Smith enjoyed the best season of his career under Carroll in 2022, passing for 4,282 yards, 30 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. While Smith will be on the fantasy football radar in superflex and two-QB leagues, he'll likely be a fringe starter in single-QB setups in a rebuilding Raiders offense. However, tight end Brock Bowers and wide receiver Jakobi Meyers give him formidable weapons to put together a solid passing attack.

The Las Vegas Raiders and quarterback Geno Smith agreed to terms on a two-year contract extension on Thursday to better compensate him for his play after the blockbuster trade this offseason in which they acquired him from the Seattle Seahawks, sources tell NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. FOX Sports' Jordan Schultz is reporting that the deal is worth $85 million and includes $66.5 million guaranteed. The 34-year-old former second-rounder (39th overall) by the New York Jets in 2013 out of West Virginia has been a late-bloomer, earning Pro Bowl nods in 2022 and 2023 in Seattle. Smith threw for a career-high 4,320 yards with 21 TDs and 15 interceptions in 17 starts in 2024 and will reunite with head coach Pete Carroll in Vegas. He'll get to work with impressive young TE Brock Bowers, but his wide receiving corps will be a big downgrade from what he had in Seattle. Treat Smith as a QB2 target in fantasy in 2025.

Las Vegas Raiders head coach Pete Carroll said on Monday that the team is "working on it" in regards to a long-term contract extension with quarterback Geno Smith. The 34-year-old veteran signal-caller turned down the Seattle Seahawks' initial contract offer after the scouting combine in February, which led Seattle to eventually trade Smith to the Raiders in a surprising move. Smith and Carroll will be working together again in 2025 after they were together in Seattle from 2020-23. Smith was a Pro Bowler in both 2022 and 2023 under Carroll, completing 67.4$ of his pass attempts for 7,906 combined passing yards, 50 touchdowns and 20 interceptions in 32 starts. The familiarity between the two is a plus, but other than tight end Brock Bowers, Smith's weapons in his new home are questionable, at best, making him more of a QB2 target yet again in fantasy in 2025.

The Las Vegas Raiders added veteran running back Raheem Mostert on a one-year deal last week in free agency, but ESPN's Ryan McFadden writes that the expectation is for the 32-year-old to be the team's No. 2 back and not the top guy. The Raiders could add another RB in free agency among the likes of Nick Chubb, Jamaal Williams, Gus Edwards and J.K. Dobbins, but the best path for the team adding to their backfield is to take advantage of a deep RB class in the draft. Vegas could take top RB Ashton Jeanty at No. 6 overall, but if they don't, there will be plenty of value options at the position later in the draft, including Iowa's Kaleb Johnson and Ohio State's TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins. Henderson and Judkins both played for new Raiders offensive coordinator Chip Kelly, who was the Buckeye's offensive coordinator last year.