Did the Raiders Downgrade at Quarterback in the Offseason?

Sep 13, 2026; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; New York Jets quarterback Geno Smith (7) looks to pass against the Tennessee Titans during the first quarter at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images

Did the Raiders Downgrade at Quarterback in the Offseason?

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Tyler Bischoff | Last updated Sep 18, 2026 9:00 AM ET

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Last season was a disaster for the Raiders, as Las Vegas finished at the bottom of the NFL with a 3-14 record. The quarterback play was no exception; Geno Smith was dreadful.

Smith led the NFL with 17 interceptions and was sacked 55 times, also the most in the league. After reviving his career in Seattle, Smith produced the worst season of his life in Las Vegas.

The Raiders were rewarded with the number one pick in the 2026 NFL Draft and used it to select their quarterback of the future in Fernando Mendoza. But the organization decided to let Mendoza develop before he takes the field and brought in Kirk Cousins, a veteran presence to help mold the rookie.

But did the Raiders downgrade at quarterback this offseason?

Power Rankings

Pro Football Focus ranked every quarterback in the NFL after Week 1. Cousins checks in at a measly 27th. But one spot ahead of him is the Raiders’ previous quarterback, Smith.

Smith is back in New York with the Jets and had a genuinely good performance to start the season. He was 19 of 24 for 215 yards without an interception and was not sacked. He was good enough to earn this praise from Gordon McGuinness of Pro Football Focus.

“Smith led all quarterbacks with an 88.4 PFF passing grade in Week 1, doing so by playing efficient football. His 87.0% adjusted completion rate ranked second in the league, and he avoided any critical mistakes, finishing without a turnover-worthy play,” McGuinness wrote.

Smith’s immediate bounce back is simply one game. He looked good last season in Week 1 when the Raiders knocked off the Patriots before the season spiraled out of control. But it also highlights how bad the Raiders were last season. Between poor coaching and a terrible offensive line, not many quarterbacks would have had a chance to be successful.

But now Smith might have another revival just by getting out of Vegas.

Lessons from Cousins

One of the curious parts of the Raiders’ plan to sit Mendoza while he learns from watching Cousins is the simple question of: is Kirk Cousins any good?

The veteran quarterback was awful throwing the ball down the field, as he completed just 1 of his 7 passes that traveled 10 yards beyond the line of scrimmage. If Cousins can’t make intermediate and deep throws, how much can Mendoza learn?

The Raiders took on a $16.2 million dead cap hit to get rid of Smith this offseason. His replacement might even be worse.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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