The Las Vegas Raiders find themselves in a similar position as last year, as they sit in last place in the AFC West and need a long-term answer at quarterback.
Geno Smith was considered to be at least a short-term answer at quarterback, but the veteran has largely struggled in his first year in Las Vegas.
Smith has looked like a shell of himself during the 2025 season, so Las Vegas will likely look to gamble on a quarterback prospect in the draft.
Almost every mock draft has the Raiders taking a quarterback, and Field Yates of ESPN believes they could target Oregon’s Dante Moore if he declares for the 2026 NFL Draft:
Moore received immense hype after five starts as a true freshman at UCLA in 2023, but 2025 has been his true breakout year. While he has a slender build at 6-foot-3 and 206 pounds, he has shown strong functional mobility and high-level downfield accuracy (third-best completion percentage in the FBS). He has a unique ability to change his arm angles when navigating pressure, too, making him a very creative quarterback overall.
Moore hasn’t made his intentions clear about declaring, but there’s little doubt he would go very high if does enter the 2026 draft. And for the Raiders, it’s clear that Geno Smith is no longer a viable starter; he’s tied for the league lead in interceptions (14) and has the second-lowest QBR (32.5). Moore could be the centerpiece for an offense that already has an elite pass catcher (Brock Bowers) and a potential star running back (Ashton Jeanty).
Moore has skyrocketed up draft boards this cycle, as he has shown off his ability to throw the football downfield or make plays using his legs and mobility. While there are some concerns about his slender frame, he looks the part of an NFL quarterback and has a case to be the first taken off the board.
Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza is making a case as the best quarterback of this year’s draft class, so that either player would be a worthwhile gamble for the Raiders. Las Vegas desperately needs to figure out the position, or else it’ll continue to tread toward the bottom of the standings.
Raiders’ Geno Smith not thinking about future despite struggling during 2025 season
Geno Smith has managed to keep his head up despite the struggles he faced during the 2025 season. While it seems more than likely that the Raiders move on from him, Smith said he’s not thinking about his future.
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