Raiders' Geno Smith move seems to show true Fernando Mendoza intentions

Las Vegas Raiders general manager John Spytek admitting during the recent NFL scouting combine that he hadn't spoken with veteran quarterback Geno Smith since the end of the 2025 season indicated that Smith had no real future with the organization. 

There's now no question that is the case. 

Raiders make expected Geno Smith move

NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport and others reported on Friday that the Raiders will release Smith at the start of the new league year at 4 p.m. ET this coming Wednesday. Smith signed a two-year, $85.5M contract extension that included $66.5M guaranteed in April 2025. His release will save the Raiders $8M in salary-cap space. 

The StatMuse website shows that Smith committed the second-most turnovers (18) in the NFL during the 2025 regular season. While the Raiders are widely expected to make Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza the first overall pick of the 2026 NFL Draft, team minority owner Tom Brady has made it known on multiple occasions that he thinks it's "a tragedy" that teams play signal-callers as rookies. 

Brady spent nearly all of his rookie season as a backup behind Drew Bledsoe. 

What this means for Fernando Mendoza, Geno Smith

A "silly season" storyline emerged from the scouting combine when it was suggested that the Raiders could trade what will become the Mendoza pick to the New York Jets and then start Smith through at least the beginning of the 2026 campaign. Mendoza may be a flawed prospect, but there continues to be no sign that the Raiders will pass on grabbing him this spring. 

Las Vegas could always acquire a different bridge option for the position, but it seems as if Mendoza will head into training camp sitting atop the Raiders' depth chart. 

As it pertains to Smith, he has been linked with both the Jets and the Minnesota Vikings. The Vikings may turn to Smith instead of Kyler Murray if Minnesota head coach Kevin O'Connell is serious about giving 2024 first-round draft pick J.J. McCarthy an opportunity to compete for the starting job this coming summer. 

Smith almost certainly would become the Jets' starter upon signing with the club. He spent his first four pro seasons (2013-2016) with the Jets when a different coaching staff and a different general manager were making football-related decisions for the organization.