Geno

Smith

Smith agreed to a restructured contract with the Raiders before the trade, complicating the salary implications, but the Raiders are reportedly picking up most of this year’s salary. To say that Smith’s year in the desert didn’t go well is an insult to the phrase “didn’t go well” as he led the league in interceptions and saw his adjusted yards per attempt fall from 7.5 to 6.8. He’s entering his age-36 season and is a last-chance gasp to keep the Jets from starting someone completely new. That said, if the Jets have something going right for their offense, it is their offensive line, and Smith probably looked worse than he was behind Vegas’ league-worst line. There’s the possibility of a dead cat bounce QB2 superflex season here. The Raiders have to be thrilled to save any money in a trade and the idea of getting a sixth-round pick on top of that can only help them as they move on to (what we all assume will be) the Fernando Mendoza Era.

Hughes also notes that “Darren Mougey isn’t a stranger to flipping late-round picks for players he wants,” perhaps indicating Smith could come to the Jets on a trade. The Jets, per Hughes, want a two-deep quarterback room with Geno Smith and Carson Wentz at the position.

Hughes also notes that the Dolphins want Malik Willis, but that Smith could be in the team’s contingency plans if the Cardinals were to lure Willis to the desert. Smith, 35, was released by the Raiders over the weekend after a down season. Smith’s struggles extend well beyond his own individual performance, as playing behind one of the worst offensive lines in the league didn’t do him many favors. Wherever he lands next, he’ll be a cheap option, and makes sense for a Dolphins team that will be paying $54 million in guaranteed money to Tua Tagovailoa this upcoming season.

Cimini continues: “they appear willing to chalk up last season to a dysfunctional situation in Las Vegas.” Cimini’s overview of the Jets quarterback situation hits all the notes we’ve been on in the blurb streets over the past month: Carson Wentz is viewed as the most likely preference of the free agents, Kyler Murray should have better options, and Jacoby Brissett has ties to both Frank Reich and Aaron Glenn while his availability via trade isn’t easily sussed out. But this is yet another Jets beat who believes Smith and the Jets could be on a course for a reunion.

Rosenblatt concludes that Smith’s availability and his lack of cost given his ability to play on an offset contract that should see him making the minimum will be pluses for the Jets. Smith, who was finally given walking papers earlier today, still has fans around the league and could be a reasonable one-year stopgap for the Jets. Brissett is seen as less likely by Rosenblatt because he has heard conflicting things about what Brissett might cost — we just blurbed about the Cardinals being unlikely to deal him, while Rosenblatt has heard they might move on for a high-end Day 3 pick. The idea of a Geno Smith-Jets reunion in 2026. What a wonderful world we live in.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter was first to report the move. Smith’s release will clear $8 million in cap space for the Raiders, but the team will also take on $18.5 million in dead money. Smith, like former head coach Pete Carroll, is officially one-and-done with the Raiders. The coach and QB joined forces after a four-year stint in Seattle that saw Smith rebuild his career under Carroll, but they were unable to enjoy similar success with the Raiders. Smith went 2-13 as a starter in Vegas while throwing for 3,025 yards, 19 touchdowns and a league-high 17 interceptions. Smith, 35, should have plenty of suitors around the league as a veteran who could serve as either a bridge for a younger QB, or as a short-term fix for one season for teams hoping to land a franchise QB in what projects as a strong 2027 draft class.

Fowler’s colleague Dan Graziano writes that “odds favor a release” for Murray because it’s unlikely a team will offer Arizona anything significant in a trade. If released, Murray would be subject to playing on a minimum contract ala Russell Wilson after the Broncos released him. Given the Vikings salary cap situation, it makes all the sense in the world for them to wind up with a reasonable quarterback solution that they don’t have to pony up big dollars for. Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio also floated the idea of Atlanta as a destination for Murray yesterday. If Murray does make it to free agency and winds up playing on the minimum while his Cardinals contract is still being paid out, it would make sense for him to prioritize a good offensive environment.

New Jets OC Frank Reich “has a close relationship with Eagles coach Nick Sirianni” and McKee “fits the physical mold of a Reich QB” per Rosenblatt. Rosenblatt also links the Jets to Geno Smith (if released), Jacoby Brissett and Kirk Cousins. McKee would be an interesting trade target after a couple of spot starts in Week 18 the past few years. He’s entering the final year of his rookie contract in 2026 and would probably cost the Jets at least a Day 2 pick, but it would undoubtedly be a higher-upside play than relying on Smith or Cousins.

Smith is dealing with an ankle injury and won’t suit up for the season finale against the Chiefs. That means Kenny Pickett will get another start for a Raiders team positioned to get the first overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Pickett threw for 64 yards and an interception in a Week 14 start against the Eagles.

It appears as though Smith’s season is over. Earlier today, Vegas Nation’s Vincent Bonsignore reported that the Raiders will use “a combination of Kenny Pickett and Aidan O’Connell” this week. Neither player should be in starting lineups, in what sounds like some sort of game-day platoon. In his first season with the Raiders, Smith completed 302-of-448 passes for 3,025 yards, 19 touchdowns and 17 interceptions, while rushing 41 times for 109 yards. He is under contract through 2027, though he is owed no money that season. If the Raiders were to cut him this offseason, it would cost them $18.5 million in dead money while saving them $8 million.