The Las Vegas Raiders’ quarterback situation is spiraling into chaos, and Geno Smith’s inaugural season in the Silver and Black has been anything but a fairy tale. Despite flashing promise in the opener post-bye week, his league-leading 11 interceptions through Week 10 paint a grim picture of inconsistency and turnover woes.
Coming off a Week 9 spark where a fully healthy Brock Bowers helped Smith shine, the veteran QB took a nosedive in Week 10. The Raiders suffered a crushing defeat to the Denver Broncos on Thursday Night Football, amplifying calls for change and exposing the fragility of their offensive core.
Talk of ditching Smith for the 2026 season inevitably circles back to viable alternatives—and whether Pete Carroll remains at the helm. Carroll’s loyalty to his longtime protégé runs deep, making any succession plan a tough sell. Yet, the Raiders could pivot via the April draft, grooming a fresh face to eventually take the reins.
But here’s where the alarm bells blare: the Raiders’ floated alternative to Smith is a nightmare in disguise. On a recent Vegas Nation podcast, Las Vegas Review-Journal’s Vincent Bonsignore doubled down on stability over upheaval.
“I think Geno Smith’s still going to be the quarterback next year,” Bonsignore asserted. “You’ve got to get him comfortable, you got to get him in the right headspace, because this is probably going to be a two-year deal, even if they draft a quarterback next offseason.”
From a financial standpoint, Smith’s three-year pact is essentially a two-year lock-in, with zero guarantees for 2027. Per Over The Cap, a 2026 trade would wipe his $26.5 million cap hit clean, leaving no dead money. Still, that’s a pipe dream if Carroll calls the shots—he’s not budging on his guy.
Enter Bleacher Report’s Moe Moton, who post-trade deadline spotlighted potential offseason movers. Topping his list? Arizona Cardinals’ seven-year vet Kyler Murray, currently sidelined on IR with a nagging foot injury that’s sidelined him for games on end. Whispers suggest this could mark the end of his Cardinals era, with NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport hinting at deeper issues beneath the surface.
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Even if Murray suits up again this year, a split feels like destiny after seven underwhelming seasons in the desert. Teams eyeing redemption arcs—like those of Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold—might come calling. Moton pegs the Carolina Panthers as the prime fit, given Bryce Young’s woes, but he also floats the Raiders as suitors, estimating a haul of multiple first-round picks.
Murray’s contract looms large: $36.8 million guaranteed for 2026, plus a $19.5 million base in 2027 that locks in early that year, per Over The Cap. Any trade suitor must navigate that financial minefield.
For the Raiders, eyeing Murray as Smith’s heir—improbable under Carroll—demands a slam-dunk upgrade. Talent-wise, Murray dazzles; Raider fans remember his 2022 masterclass against them. But he falls short on intangibles, lacking that magnetic leadership that elevates elite QBs.
As Murray’s Arizona tenure fades, Vegas emerges as a rumored landing spot. The Associated Press’ Josh Dubow notes the Raiders are betting favorites to snag him. Yet, this move screams lateral at best—a youth infusion without real progress. Swapping assets for a marginal bump? That’s malpractice. Better to commit fully to a 2026 draft stud, building a true future rather than chasing fool’s gold. The Raiders’ QB trap is set—will they step in it?