If the Raiders eventually bench Geno Smith, who would be the next quarterback in line?
There have been mixed messages on whether it would (hypothetically) be Kenny Pickett or Aidan O’Connell to step in for Smith, but the Las Vegas Review-Journal’s Vinny Bonsignore believes it would be Kenny Pickett.
“If you want to know why Aiden O’Connell has been the emergency quarterback the last couple of weeks since he’s been activated, it’s because in their eyes, Kenny Pickett is the better option at the number two quarterback. Why is Geno Smith starting and getting all the time? Because in their eyes, he gives them the best option to win games,” Bonsignore said on the Vegas Nation First and 10 podcast.
“And obviously, there’s a wide disparity between he and the other two quarterbacks, Kenny Pickett included. That’s why he’s getting the time that he gets. That’s why Geno Smith continues to get put out there and continues to stay in there.”
Speaking of Smith, the message that has been permeating from the building in recent days is that he will most likely be back with the Raiders in 2026.
Smith’s contract could factor into his future with the team (the Raiders owe him $18 whether he is on the roster or not), and Pete Carroll’s status might figure into the equation, as well.
If Carroll is fired after the season, it probably wouldn’t be the best-case scenario for Smith, but the two were together this year and that wasn’t a great scenario, either.
As for the backup quarterbacks, it would make sense to get a look at Pickett before the end of the season considering the Raiders gave a fifth-round pick to the Browns for him just weeks before the start of the season and he will be a free agent after the season.
O’Connell has some popularity in Las Vegas, but most would agree he has a limited upside.
Sixth-round pick Cam Miller was believed to be Tom Brady’s late-round quarterback of choice in the draft, so it would be nice for him have an opportunity to play before the end of the season, as well.
x: @raidersbeat