The Las Vegas Raiders do not want to gamble or take any risks with their new veteran quarterback. With Geno Smith just one year away from being able to hit the free agency market, the team reportedly signed him to a two-year, $75 million extension Thursday, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.
Smith, 34 years-of-age, was acquired by the team last month. He was scheduled to make $14.8 million in 2025 before becoming an unrestricted free agent after the season. It is unclear when Smith’s new extension goes into effect, or if it will impact his 2025 salary, but it does ensure he will stick with the Raiders through the 2027 campaign.
Smith can make up to $85.5 million as part of the new deal, according to ESPN’s senior NFL insider Adam Schefter. The Raiders guaranteed Smith $66.5 million with the extension. It is another enormous deal for Smith, who was on his way to becoming a journeyman backup before resurrecting his career with Pete Carroll and the Seattle Seahawks in 2020.
It took Smith a little longer than most to find his footing in the NFL. After being selected by the New York Jets in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft out of West Virginia University, Smith was named the team’s starter after Mark Sanchez went down with an injury. Smith struggled as a rookie, throwing 12 touchdowns against 21 interceptions in 16 games.
Smith showed minor improvement during his second season but was benched in games in favor of veteran Michael Vick. Smith finished with 13 touchdowns and 13 interceptions during an up and down second year in the NFL.
Embed from Getty ImagesHe was expected to start for the team in 2015, but suffered a fractured jaw during a preseason locker room fight with teammate IK Enemkpali. By the time Smith returned, Ryan Fitzpatrick had taken hold of the starting job and was not giving it back. Injuries limited Smith to just two games in 2016.
Smith spent 2017 with the New York Giants. He started one game before being benched in favor of Eli Manning. Smith’s lone start broke a 210-game starting streak by Manning. After the season, Smith signed with the Los Angeles Chargers. He threw a mere four passes with the team in 2018.
The Seahawks took a flyer on Smith in 2019, but he did not see action in a game. The team released Smith that August but were able to re-sign him to back up Russell Wilson. Smith returned to the team for both the 2020 and 2021 NFL seasons but appeared in just five games during that period.
Smith re-signed with the team ahead of the 2022 season with the intention of being Seattle’s starting quarterback after the team traded Wilson to the Denver Broncos. Smith exceeded all expectations, leading the league in completion percentage while throwing for 30 touchdowns. That performance earned Smith his first-ever Pro Bowl nod.
Smith was set to hit free agency that offseason, but signed a lucrative three-year, $105 million extension to stay in Seattle. He made the Pro Bowl again in 2023 and threw 21 touchdowns against 15 interceptions in 2024.
The Seahawks made the difficult choice to go younger and in a different direction at quarterback in the offseason, trading Smith to the Raiders. Seattle found his replacement quickly, signing 27-year-old Sam Darnold to a three-year, $100.5 million deal.
While Smith’s new contract keeps him in Las Vegas for the short-term, there are no guarantees he remains the team’s starter for three more seasons. The Raiders hold the No. 6 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft and would almost certainly have interest if Cam Ward or Shedeur Sanders were still available on the board.
