When Geno Smith became a Raider via offseason trade, intrigue ramped up in Las Vegas.
For the first time since the end of the Derek Carr era, the Silver and Black had a veteran quarterback capable of leading an offense to success. Paired with new coach Pete Carroll and his Super Bowl-winning résumé, the Raiders would finally be worth watching.
Nine months later, the results couldn't be worse. Las Vegas (2-12) is unquestionably home to the NFL's worst team, a shoulder injury has sidelined Smith, and the only chatter related to the Raiders revolves around if and when they'll fire Carroll.
Despite the mountain of adversity, Smith remains optimistic. He believes good times are ahead, telling reporters Wednesday, "I'm expecting to win a lot of games here."
"That's what we're pressing towards, and nothing happens in one day [or] one year," Smith said, via ESPN. "We would have loved to win the Super Bowl this year, but that's not our reality right now. The reality is we've got to get better, and we've got to focus on getting better day to day, and anything else outside of that really is nonsense."
There's no guarantee Smith is part of the Raiders' plans beyond 2025. When Las Vegas acquired him, Smith agreed to a two-year extension that eliminated any contract year drama and demonstrated the Raiders' commitment to the 35-year-old.
That deal was signed with the belief Smith and Carroll would last beyond 2025. With just two wins to their name and one in the last 14 weeks, such an expectation is far from guaranteed.
Smith's extension -- a deal worth up to $85.5 million -- isn't financially prohibitive if the Raiders clean house and decide to move on. He'd only count for $18.5 million against their dead cap in 2026 if released in the new league year and they'd clear his cap hit entirely if they found a trade partner.
If the Raiders believe Smith was a victim of the circumstances surrounding him -- a situation that included playing behind the NFL's worst offensive line and somehow finding a way to tally 2,648 yards, 16 touchdowns and 14 interceptions -- then they'll proceed with him in 2026. But a new regime might want a fresh start.
Right now, Smith is only concerned with his health. He's still working his way back from a shoulder injury that forced him out of Las Vegas' Week 14 loss to Denver and prevented him from playing against Philadelphia in Week 15. The Raiders travel to Houston in Week 16.
That brief interruption doesn't distract from the bigger picture, though. Smith knows the Raiders' performance has been unacceptable. He hopes he'll be afforded a chance to lead a turnaround.
"That's our record ... There's no assessment to be made," Smith said. "I control what I can control, which is going out there and playing football. If you start looking and thinking about things outside of your control, that's when I think you lose it. You've got to stay focused, and that's what I'm doing."
