In the NFL, the “Quarterback Carousel” never truly stops spinning, it just changes speed. Today, it hit high gear as the Las Vegas Raiders officially released veteran Geno Smith. While some fans were blindsided, Geno’s reaction on social media was anything but shocking. His reaction started a full blown debate on the platform with many supporting him and wishing more for his future.
Raiders Release Geno Smith: Full Contract Details and 2026 Salary Cap Impact
Tweeting, “God is the GREATEST. THANK U LORD,” Smith signaled that he’s ready for his next chapter, even if the one in Vegas ended with a bit of a thud.
The timing isn’t a coincidence. NFL contracts are often built like ticking time bombs. By releasing Geno today, the Raiders avoid an $8 million roster guarantee that would have kicked in next week.
While they still have to eat roughly $18. 5 million in dead money, saving that $8 million gives them much-needed breathing room to rebuild a roster that struggled significantly last season.
The real reason Geno is packing his bags? The Raiders are officially on the clock. With the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 Draft, Las Vegas is widely expected to select Indiana standout Fernando Mendoza.
When you have the chance to grab a franchise-altering rookie on a cheap contract, veteran bridge quarterbacks usually become “expendable.”
After a 2025 season where Geno was sacked 55 times and led the league in interceptions, the Raiders’ front office decided it was time to stop patching the leak and start building a new house.
Geno Smith is 35, but in a league starved for competent quarterback play, he won’t be unemployed for long. He is the ultimate “resilience” story, and several teams are already being linked to him:
They need a veteran presence to challenge and mentor J.J. McCarthy.
A potential homecoming? The Jets are reportedly looking for multiple veterans to stabilize their locker room.
Mike Tomlin loves veteran poise, and Geno could provide a high-floor insurance policy for their current room.
Geno Smith has spent his career being counted out, from his early days in New York to his “they wrote me off, I didn’t write back” Pro Bowl era in Seattle. While his Vegas stint was underwhelming, his upbeat reaction suggests he already knows where his next phone call is coming from.
The Raiders are betting their future on a rookie, and Geno is betting on himself, again.
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