On Facebook
On Flipboard
On Twitter
The Las Vegas Raiders finally released details about Geno Smith ’s new contract. It’s a two-year $85.5 million extension that includes $66.5 million in guaranteed money. The veteran quarterback is now part of the Vegas franchise until the 2027 NFL season.
Gardner Minshew departed the Raiders to join the Kansas City Chiefs, leaving the team shorthanded at quarterbacks. Owners Tom Brady and Mark Davis and general manager John Spytek quickly identified Smith as the suitable replacement, as he only had one year left on his Seattle Seahawks contract.
Spytek revealed the former first-rounder felt like a good fit for the system, as Smith played under newly appointed head coach Pete Carroll for a few years in Seattle.
We [the Raiders] arrived at a spot where we thought adding Geno made a lot of sense for us… I love my picks more than anybody and I gotta remind Coach [Pete] Carroll how much I love picks. But listen, we used a late third-round pick to hopefully have our starting quarterback here for years to come. And it was too good of an opportunity to pass up.
John Spytek said (H/T: NFL.com)
The Raiders sent their 92nd overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft to the Seahawks to acquire Geno Smith. ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Thursday revealed that Smith signed a two-year deal with the Raiders.
QB Geno Smith is signing a two-year, $85.5 million extension that includes $66.5 million in guaranteed money with the Raiders, per source. Smith is now contractually tied to Las Vegas through the 2027 season. pic.twitter.com/ERp7Vh0DLG
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 3, 2025
Spotrac reported that Smith’s 2-year, $75M ($37.5M APY) extension with the Raiders makes him the 17th highest-paid QB in football. His $66.5M guaranteed ranks 17th among the current active quarterbacks (Deshaun Watson’s $230 million guaranteed is still the most by a distance).
Geno Smith's 2 year, $75M ($37.5M APY) extension with the #Raiders makes him the 17th highest average paid QB in football.
— Spotrac (@spotrac) April 3, 2025
A reported $66.5M guaranteed ranks 17th.
Analyst says the Raiders may not draft a quarterback in the first round after Geno Smith deal
Smith is now locked in for the next two seasons for the Raiders. Besides the 34-year-old, the Raiders have Aidan O’Connell on the QB list and the sixth overall pick after finishing the 2024 season 4-13, finishing at the bottom of the AFC West.
The initial thought process was that the Raiders would draft a quarterback by using their first pick. However, that may no longer be the plan for Brady and Spytek after giving Smith a two-year contract.
During the recent segment of NFL Live, Schefter argued that Smith wanted to play for the Raiders. The Seahawks listened to him, and now he will earn more than the contract Sam Darnold signed in Seattle.
I think this almost clinches the fact that the Las Vegas Raiders will bypass a quarterback in the first round. Maybe they [Brady, Davis & Spytek] revisit it in an early round later on. But it’s hard to imagine that they go and give Geno Smith $75 million today and then turn around three weeks later and draft a quarterback in the first round.
Adam Schefter said
"I think this almost clinches the fact that the Las Vegas Raiders will bypass a quarterback in the first round." @AdamSchefter on the Raiders' NFL draft plans after extending QB Geno Smith. pic.twitter.com/6gXMCE4qhW
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) April 3, 2025
Raiders should draft a quarterback
Schefter highlighted that the Raiders may bypass drafting a rookie quarterback in the first round, but that doesn’t mean it may not happen later on. Perhaps a late second or third-round addition could do the trick.
Pro Football Focus, in their latest mock draft, projected Alabama’s quarterback Jalen Milroe is set to fall into the Raiders’ lap in the third round (pick 73).
Jalen Milroe’s accuracy remains a concern, but his elite athleticism makes him a constant big-play threat on the ground. He thrives as a deep-ball passer, recording 16 big-time throws with just one turnover-worthy pass on throws 20-plus yards downfield.
PFF wrote
Jalen Milroe – Raiders QB of the future? pic.twitter.com/6z9J7kBw2u
— PFF (@PFF) March 3, 2025
Milroe is a unit. Despite being 6 feet, 2 inches and 217 pounds, Milroe completed the 40-yard dash in 4.64 seconds. If Brady believes in the Packers model, then drafting Milroe and giving him two years to learn the system would be the best course of action. However, the Raiders must remain wary of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
More must-reads:
- The Big Five: NFL’s biggest surprises of the 2025 season — for better or worse
- Eagles receive good and bad injury news ahead of matchup with Giants
- The 'Most NFL QB two-rushing-TD games' quiz
Breaking News
Trending News
Customize Your Newsletter
+
Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!
TODAY'S BEST
Jacksonville Jaguars Announce Unfortunate Decision After Win Against Chiefs
The Jacksonville Jaguars ended their 16-year losing streak to the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday night after a thrilling 31-28 victory at EverBank Stadium. Trevor Lawrence turned in another strong performance to help lead the Jaguars to victory with 18-of-25 completed passes for 221 yards and one touchdown. It wasn’t all good news for the Jaguars, though, who improved to 4-1 after taking down Patrick Mahomes and the mighty Chiefs. They lost starting tight end Brenton Strange in the first half after the former Penn State Nittany Lions star suffered a hip injury. Strange was unable to return to the game, and tests have determined a significant quad issue for the 24-year-old. The Jaguars took to social media on Tuesday to announce that Strange has been placed on injured reserve (IR), which means he will be forced to miss at least four games due to his hip problem. “The Jacksonville Jaguars have made the following roster moves: Placed TE Brenton Strange on injured reserve Signed WR Tim Jones to the practice squad Released WR Erik Ezukanma from the practice squad,” JaguarsPR posted on X. In five games played this season, Strange has already registered a team-high 20 catches for 204 yards. He hasn’t scored a touchdown yet, but is currently on pace to set career-high receiving marks. This injury is a tough blow amid his strong start, and the hope is that Strange will be able to pick up where he left off once he’s healthy enough to return. The silver lining for the Jaguars here is that Strange has reportedly avoided a season-ending injury, and the team expects him to be back in around a month. For now, Jacksonville will need to turn to the likes of Johnny Mundt and Hunter Long to fill the void at tight end. The Jaguars also announced on Tuesday that they’ve brought in WR Tim Jones to the practice squad, while Erik Ezukanma has been released. It remains to be seen if Jones will be able to do enough to earn a spot on the active roster. Jacksonville’s next game is on Sunday as they take on the 3-2 Seattle Seahawks in a home game at EverBank Stadium for Week 6.
Cowboys coach makes it sound like personnel change some were expecting won't happen ahead of Week 6
Commanders’ latest pursuit ends in uncertainty and uneasy silence
The Washington Commanders wanted to take a look at another once-promising edge rusher to give one of the team's surprising strengths a boost. However, early indications suggest that nothing will come from the visit. Adam Schefter from ESPN reported that the Commanders were among three teams that had scheduled meetings with Drake Jackson. Peters was part of the San Francisco 49ers front office that spent a second-round pick on the explosive pass-rusher, but injuries have decimated his time in the NFL so far. Jackson was let go by the Niners after barely featuring for the best part of two seasons. He was a gifted player in college, but San Francisco felt it was one roadblock too many for the player to overcome. Drake Jackson left the Commanders without a deal after his recent visit Peters wanted to know for sure. The NFL's transaction wire revealed that the Commanders spent time with Jackson on Tuesday, which probably involved a workout of some kind and some medical assessments as part of the team's due diligence. Jackson left without a deal. He's also set to meet with the New York Jets and Baltimore Ravens, which might have something to do with it. But if the Commanders were 100 percent convinced that the former USC standout had something to offer, chances are that Peters wouldn't have let him leave the building. The Commanders' pass-rush has been among the team's biggest surprises this season. Fans were highly concerned about the lack of genuine quality or depth. Still, they've silenced their doubters and a whole lot more over the opening five weeks, generating pressure consistently and being among the most prolific teams against the run for good measure. Upsetting the current dynamic doesn't seem right now. At the same time, Peters is continually seeking ways to improve. He obviously saw something in Jackson during the Niners' pre-draft evaluations, but he'd have to be in supreme shape to make an impact. That might be the case, but it's not guaranteed. The Ravens might be in a better position to offer Jackson a roster spot. They recently traded Odafe Oweh to the Los Angeles Chargers, so there could be an opening if everything goes well during that meeting. Washington is willing to adopt a wait-and-see approach, and Peters will have other options in mind if he's not entirely convinced. For fans, it's a waiting game. But they can relax, safe in the knowledge that those currently around are having the desired impact right now.
New trade target identified for Steelers: 'It would not surprise me'
The Pittsburgh Steelers have been a team that has been connected to every potentially available wide receiver in the NFL over the last several years. The fan base has been clamoring for a big move at the position that will bring in another high-level player to pair with DK Metcalf, but it seems like a longshot that that would happen. However, there are some candidates around the NFL that could be moved, especially on teams that have gotten off to a disappointing start to the year. The trade deadline is Nov. 4, so a deal would need to be reached in under a month. Pittsburgh was linked to Tyreek Hill throughout the 2025 offseason, but it never really seemed like a deal would happen. That is especially true after he suffered a horrific season-ending injury. However, one of his teammates could now be an interesting addition to Pittsburgh. Jaylen Waddle has been a really good wide receiver ever since entering the NFL in 2021, but he is stuck in Miami. ESPN's Jeremy Fowler wrote in a recent article that he believes teams will start calling about the wide receiver, and Pittsburgh doing so would make a lot of sense. "League execs are already wondering which struggling teams could enter fire sale mode," Fowler wrote. "In the AFC East, the Jets would have several attractive trade possibilities on the defensive side of the ball, as would the Dolphins on offense. It would not surprise me if teams start to call on Miami receiver Jaylen Waddle if the Dolphins continue to struggle, though I highly doubt Miami would entertain that at this point, especially with Tyreek Hill out for the season." Losing Hill for the entire 2025 season makes it hard to imagine that Miami would part ways with Waddle, but the team is struggling and it is hard to find a path to that franchise succeeding in the near future. Head coach Mike McDaniel seems to be as pre-fired as a head coach can be, and there has been rumblings about the franchise completely cleaning house and moving on from Chris Grier as general manager as well. Waddle arguably had his best season during his rookie year in 2021 when he caught 104 passes for 1,015 yards and six touchdowns, but he broke that single-season yardage and touchdown mark the following season in 2022. He started his career off very well, but injuries and inconsistent quarterback play has made it difficult for him to thrive in Miami. It is completely reasonable to think that Waddle might be open to a change of scenery, while Miami might want to bring in some draft capital to start building for the future. Steelers should be involved in talks for multiple wide receivers Waddle could be an option in Pittsburgh, but another receiver to keep an eye on is Jakobi Meyers. The Las Vegas Raiders are also 1-4, and the team doesn't seem to be getting any better. The quarterback play has not been good, and it is going to be hard to compete in the AFC West after getting off to a horrendous start. Fowler wrote about Meyers being a trade candidate, and about how he expects deals involving wide receivers to happen ahead of the deadline. "One other receiver from a struggling team to watch could be Jakobi Meyers," Fowler wrote. "The Raiders and Meyers couldn't reach a deal before Week 1 despite his trade request, and with the Raiders sitting at 1-4, interest in the player could tick upward. Anyway, there will be much movement leaguewide, and I suspect enough interest in the receiver position to forecast a move or two." Meyers and Waddle would both be welcomed additions in Pittsburgh. However, it is still unlikely for the franchise to be able to land either player. Waddle would carry a very large cap hit with him in 2027 and 2028, and Meyers would need a new extension as the trade is done.
The Rangers defensive struggles continued on opening night
In what was a disappointing result to start the new campaign, the team in Manhattan is facing similar issues that plagued them last year. The New York Rangers opened up their centennial season on Tuesday night against the rebuilding Pittsburgh Penguins. Despite seemingly coming in as a favorite to start 1-0, the Rangers fell flat, falling to Arturs Silovs and company by a score of 3-0. Along with not being able to put a notch up on the scoreboard, the Rangers showed signs that the defensive structure that hindered them throughout the 2024-25 season persisted, leading to many great scoring chances on goaltender Igor Shesterkin. While it’s still early in the new campaign, a lot of things look the same for New York, despite having a new coach behind the bench. On Wednesday’s edition of Daily Faceoff LIVE, Steve Peters joined Tyler Yaremchuk and Carter Hutton to discuss what was wrong with the Blueshirts in game one of the season. Steve Peters: I was disappointed in the Rangers in that I’m a huge Mike Sullivan supporter. I’m a big fan of the way he coaches. He’s accountable, structured…plays the right way. One of the problems with the New York Rangers a season ago was their inability to protect the net front in front of Shesterkin. They gave up way too many chances around the blue paint, second opportunities, tip-screens. I expected that to be one of the strengths of this Rangers team this season. Now it’s one game, but in that one game, they really struggled to keep the Pittsburgh Penguins from getting to the inside. The amount of times [Justin] Brazeau had opportunities near and around the blue paint was just surprising. Even the goal that you see Brazeau getting that close to the net without being defended. I was disappointed at how poorly the Rangers defended. I think it’s going to take time for them to find their offensive stride…but defensively, this team’s going to have to tighten up. They’re going to have to defend better. They’re going from a man-on-man system a year ago, and now they’re trying to defend in more of a zone structure. So, you’re expecting a defenseman in front of the net more often. Hard to change those habits. It’s hard to make that change in one game. They’ll grow defensively, but that was the biggest disappointment for me in game one. You can watch the full segment and entire episode here…
PRIVACY POLICY EDITORIAL POLICY CONTACT US
ABOUT YARDBARKER TERMS OF SERVICE
Use of this website (including any and all parts and
components) constitutes your acceptance of these
Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
This site is for entertainment purposes only.
There is no gambling offered on this site.
Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-Gambler.
