The Las Vegas Raiders have been desperately searching for an answer at quarterback for years since releasing Derek Carr, and they seemingly found at least their bridge option in Geno Smith.
The Raiders landed Smith in a trade with the Seattle Seahawks, reuniting him with head coach Pete Carroll and, more importantly, giving them a legitimate veteran to man the offense. Smith might not be in the top tier of quarterbacks, but he’s an above-average signal caller with a great arm and excellent pocket presence.
Las Vegas has been held back by its quarterback play over the years, even when Carr was with the franchise. Carr had his warts donning the Silver and Black, but it wasn’t for a lack of effort as he played through various injuries and poor rosters to help the Raiders win as many games as possible.
Following his departure from Las Vegas, Carr landed a four-year deal with the New Orleans though it appears he won’t be able to honor the length of his contract as he formally announced his retirement from the NFL via Adam Schefter of ESPN:
Derek Carr has announced his retirement. pic.twitter.com/WqcaVkSD60
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) May 10, 2025
Earlier in the offseason, the Saints announced Carr was dealing with a significant shoulder injury that threatened his ability to play in the 2025 season. It appears the injury was worse than initially anticipated, as surgery couldn’t guarantee Carr would be able to return at 100 percent, thus forcing him into retirement.
It’s unfortunate that Carr’s career ended as he was young enough to continue playing at the NFL level, but now New Orleans must find a pivot plan before the start of next season. Even though his time in Las Vegas ended on a sour note, Raiders fans can still appreciate Carr’s contributions and dedication to the organization.
Carr was one of the Raiders’ lone bright spots during the 2010s, leading them to several exciting wins and even postseason appearances. While he was never good enough to get the organization to a Super Bowl, Carr will be one of the best players in the organization’s history.
Raiders agree to two-year contract extension with Geno Smith
Geno Smith is a massive upgrade over Gardner Minshew and Aidan O’Connell and should lead the Las Vegas Raiders to more wins in 2025. The Raiders ensured that Smith sticks around for the short term as they signed him to a two-year extension following the trade.
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