They say time is a vicious circle. I think that hits extra hard for quarterback Geno Smith today. The Las Vegas Raiders announced that they are officially moving on from Smith, who last offseason signed a 2-year, 75 million dollar extension to keep him in the silver & black until 2028. But with a new coaching regime comes a lot of new changes for the franchise.
Geno Smith has had quite the journey throughout his time in the NFL. For the last 12 years, we’ve seen him bounce from team to team looking for a permanent home. Many thought that would be with the Seattle Seahawks. After trading Russell Wilson, the Seahawks turned to Smith, who went on to throw for over 70+ TDs, 12,000+ yards, win the league’s “Come Back Player of the Year award, and was nominated to the Pro Bowl.
It wasn’t until a late season decline in 2024 that brought everything to a screeching halt for the prospering QB. In the following offseason, new head coach Mike McDonald felt the team needed to go in a different direction. The Seahawks then decided to make a trade with the Las Vegas Raiders to ship out Geno and bring in rising star Sam Darnold. They then went on to win the Super Bowl.
Checkout our YouTube Channel for the latest and greatest around the NFL!
Reuniting with Pete Carroll was supposed to be what led to the resurgence of peak Geno. Unfortunately, that couldn’t have been farther from the truth. He went on to have a 58.2 PFF passing grade with the Raiders and threw the most interceptions in his career outside of his rookie season. In all fairness, Geno did not have much to work with in Las Vegas. A coach with dated tendencies, a laughable offensive line, and a WR room that left a lot to be desired.
Yet again, Smith finds himself packing his bags. Not to a place that is unfamiliar though. It was announced that the Raiders are trading Geno back to where it all began. The New York Jets give up a 2026 6th-round selection for Geno and a 2026 7th-round pick.
In the 2013 NFL Draft, the Jets selected Smith in the 2nd Round with the 39th overall pick. With a stellar career at West Virginia University and finishing as a Heisman Finalist, he looked to have a promising future in New York. Sadly, after just 3 years with the Jets, they decided to part ways after a viral altercation between him and a teammate that led to Smith requiring jaw surgery.
If there was ever a chance to have a Netflix documentary made after you, this would be the time. Talk about the full character arc development that could unfold in this situation. People are constantly looking for the next Sam Darnold or Baker Mayfield redemption story. Imagine Geno rising from the ashes to return to the team that ultimately drafted him and brought them back to relevance.
With one of the best young offensive lines in football, a true number 1 receiver in Garrett Wilson, a do-it-all back in Breece Hall, and a playcaller in Frank Reich who made Carson Wentz look good, I think Geno could do very well in New York. At the very least, he can come in and be a mentor to whoever is up next to take the reins of the franchise. Will history repeat itself, or will we be seeing the next ESPN 20 for 20 film right before our eyes?
Make sure to follow us on all of our social channels!
