Raiders Commit to Geno Smith With New 2-Year Deal

Smith’s new deal is worth $75 million, with $66.5 million in guarantees, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The two years will be added to his existing contract which was set to expire at the end of the upcoming season. The Raiders are now set to pay Smith as a franchise quarterback until the 2027 season.

On a per-year basis, Smith is now the 16th highest-paid quarterback in the league. He’s tied with former Raider and current Saints QB Derek Carr.

Vegas acquired Smith from Seattle in exchange for a third-round pick in March. HC Pete Carroll and GM John Spytek identified an obvious need at QB given the options they inherited. Instead of swinging on a rookie in the NFL Draft, the Raiders felt a veteran like Smith had a better chance of kickstarting Vegas’ offense.

Last season was Smith’s best from a numbers standpoint. He ranked third in the league with 15 interceptions, and threw for just 21 TDs in 17 games. Smith’s 53.8 QBR was his lowest in three seasons as the Seahawks’ starting quarterback. However, the situation in Seattle was less than ideal. Playing behind a poor offensive line, Smith was forced to make quick reads and throws into tight windows.

Despite the conditions, Smith was one of the most accurate passers in the league. 81.8-percent of his pass attempts (excluding spikes and throwaways) were considered on-target according to Pro Football Reference — the highest mark in the league.

Extending Smith likely eliminates any chance of the Raiders using premium draft capital on a quarterback. They’ll look to add skill players around Smith, and also patch up some defensive holes after losing multiple starters in free agency.