Smith's turnover-plagued season ends with injury. Pickett steps in for the Raiders' final game, potentially paving the way for a new QB in 2026.
The 2025 season has officially ended for Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Geno Smith, who has officially been ruled out for the final game of the season against the Kansas City Chiefs. Smith suffered a high ankle sprain in the Raiders’ Week 17 34-10 loss to the New York Giants.
With his first season in the silver and black in the books, it’s more appropriate than ever to recap the many ways the Smith-Raiders experiment has not worked, the most obvious of which is the high turnover rate.
Smith will end the season as the NFL’s leading quarterback in the wrong category: interceptions. His 17 picks are Smith’s highest total since his rookie season back in 2013. It’s fair to say that when Las Vegas traded a third-round pick for the veteran last offseason, they were expecting a more reliable QB than what Smith was able to offer.
Among quarterbacks, the 35-year-old ranks 30th in passer rating and 29th in QBR heading into Week 18. With how disastrous 2025 was for Smith and the Raiders, it wouldn’t be a surprise if he’s already played his final game in a Raiders uniform.
Heading into Week 18, the Raiders are in position for the first overall selection in next spring’s draft. It’s no secret that they’ll be looking to select a quarterback in the draft, ideally one who puts the franchise back on track after just two postseason appearances since 2003. Indiana University’s Fernando Mendoza looks to be that guy for Las Vegas, but they need to secure the No. 1 selection to ensure it’s a possibility.
That brings us to the Week 18 matchup against Kansas City, where Kenny Pickett is expected to start in place of Smith. In his previous start against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 15, Pickett finished with just 64 passing yards and an interception. If he’s given the start in Week 18, Raiders fans would welcome a similar performance to confirm their place at the top of the draft board.
What the Raiders do with Smith this offseason will be an intriguing case to watch, as he signed an extension that will keep him in Las Vegas for another two seasons. Would the organization be willing cut ties with him after just one year, or will they keep his big salary on the bench behind a rookie quarterback? Las Vegas’ decisions will be consequential in the offseason, but what matters most now is one more final loss in 2025.