The Las Vegas Raiders upgraded their quarterback position in a big way this offseason. After enduring some of the worst play imaginable over the last couple of years under center, the Silver and Black finally have a credible signal caller after trading a third-round pick to the Seattle Seahawks in exchange for Pro Bowler Geno Smith.
Heading into his first year with the Raiders, Smith should have a lot to work with. That’s thanks to the presence of Jakobi Meyers, Jack Bech, and elite tight end Brock Bowers. Oh, and Ashton Jeanty, too.
Let’s take a look at how the 32-year-old’s ’25 campaign may play out.
Geno Smith’s 2024 Season
Looking at Smith’s numbers last year, they seem closer to the middle of the pack than anything else. However, when you consider the broader context, certain aspects begin to stand out.
Last year, Smith started all 17 games and completed 70.4 percent of the passes he threw. He compiled 4,320 yards, good for an impressive 254.1 per game. His TD/INT ratio wasn’t especially impressive, with 21 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. Smith’s passer rating of 93.2 was solid, albeit not particularly noteworthy.
However, it’s important to note that Smith’s performance was not affected by the fact that he was playing behind what was arguably the worst offensive line in the league. Smith is an extremely accurate quarterback, so the fact that he completed seven out of every 10 attempts while running from pressure regularly is impressive.
How Should The New Raiders QB Be Expected To Perform?
One big reason for optimism is Smith’s reunion with Pete Carroll. Carroll was the first coach to find sustained success with Smith once he took over the starting role in 2022 following Russell Wilson’s departure from Seattle. The familiarity between the two is likely something Carroll had in mind when trading for Smith.
Smith will also have a solid supporting cast around him. Las Vegas added Ashton Jeanty through the draft, who will get a ton of carries and immediately be an enormous help for Smith. If anything, having Jeanty on the field could result in more defenders near the line of scrimmage, which could open things up for Geno Smith down the field.
The new signal-caller is going to have some talented weapons as well. Brock Bowers had a terrific rookie season and will immediately become Geno’s first option. At receiver, Jakobi Meyers is coming off his first 1,000-yard season of his career. Meyers is joined by Jack Bech, a second-round pick this year, as well as speedy options such as Tre Tucker and Dont’e Thornton Jr.
One massive variable for Geno Smith should be his offensive line. Now, the Raiders’ offensive line does still have a lot to prove. However, there are reasons to be excited. At left tackle, Kolton Miller is a reliable option to protect Smith’s blindside. Las Vegas also has encouraging young pieces in Jackson Powers-Johnson and D.J. Glaze. Although it’s not yet fully developed, it has more potential than any line he’s had with Seattle recently.
Prediction For Geno Smith?
Taking everything into account, we should anticipate a slight improvement in Smith’s performance from last year. He can throw the deep ball and has several pass-catchers with speed on the roster. He should have more time to throw than he’s used to and has excellent building blocks around him in Jeanty and Bowers. Don’t expect him to tear the league apart, but Geno Smith should have a solid debut season in Las Vegas.
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