Former West Virginia quarterback Geno Smith will be looking for a new home for the 2026 season. Smith is expected to be released by the Las Vegas Raiders, barring a trade. The Raiders released Smith to make $8 million in salary cap space and are taking on $18.5 million in dead cap.

Smith was only with the Raiders for a season. Last offseason, Smith was traded from the Seattle Seahawks for a third-round pick, reuniting him with his former head coach, Pete Carroll. He signed a two-year, $75 million extension after being traded from Seattle. Smith didn’t have the best season and played in just 15 games. He threw 19 touchdowns and had a whopping 17 interceptions. Las Vegas has the No. 1 overall pick, which is expected to be used on Indiana quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza.

Before the Raiders, he spent five seasons in Seattle. Smith earned himself two Pro Bowl appearances and was named the 2022 Comeback Player of the Year. He had 4,282 and 30 touchdowns. Before Seattle, Smith was a backup quarterback for the Los Angeles Chargers and New York Giants, starting in some games.

Smith was originally drafted by the New York Jets in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft with the 39th overall pick. Like many Jets quarterbacks, Smith didn’t find any success over four years, and he didn’t have a season where he threw more touchdowns than picks.

Smith had a successful career with the Mountaineers, though. In 2011, Smith led the Big East in passing yards (4,385) and touchdowns (31). WVU won 17th in the final AP Poll that year and also won the Orange Bowl. Smith set 33 records from 2009-12. He set season records for passing yards (4,385) and touchdowns (42) and career records for total offense (12,004), passing yards (11,662) and pass attempts (1,465). In 2022, Smith was inducted into the WVU Sports Hall of Fame.

Now, Smith is looking to play again somewhere. After a rough 2025 season, it’ll be tough to get a starting gig around the NFL in 2026. However, there are a lot of quarterback-needy teams, and a reunion with the New York Jets, or heading back to the Morgantown area, playing for the Pittsburgh Steelers. But, it’s possible, at the age of 35, that Smith’s days as a starting quarterback in the league are over.