When the Las Vegas Raiders locked quarterback Geno Smith in to a two-year contract extension to keep him in Las Vegas until 2027, the team dramatically changed the strategy regarding the position in the draft.
However, the long-term picture under center is still far from settled for the Raiders. The details of Smith’s new deal indicate most of his guaranteed money is spread out between this season and next. Essentially, the deal is structured in a manner where Smith can be moved off of as early as next offseason, and more likely after the 2026 season.
The Raiders are mindful of the situation, which explains the influx of quarterbacks coming in for top-30 meetings.
The Raiders clearly have interest in the 2025 quarterback crop, but it is uncertain when they will start to target the position.
In a mailbag published on Friday, The Athletic’s Vic Tafur presented his thoughts on the Raiders quarterback situation heading into the draft.
“Bringing in a young quarterback to learn behind Smith makes sense (and we think the Raiders might trade Aidan O’Connell on draft weekend),” Tafur responded. “New minority owner Tom Brady likes the idea of rookie quarterbacks sitting and soaking it all in, and there are some interesting options even in what is a down year in the draft for QBs.”
The Raiders have met or scheduled meetings with many of the draft’s top quarterback options. Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders, Ole Miss’s Jaxson Dart, Alabama’s Jalen Milroe and Texas’s Quinn Ewers are among the names the Raiders have interest in. However, that does not guarantee they fit with where the Raiders intend to start targeting quarterbacks.
“Sanders doesn’t make a lot of sense at No. 6, and a surprising number of quarterbacks could be gone by the time the Raiders pick at 37,” Tafur continued. “Dart is also projected by many to go in the first round. Milroe could, too, because he can help teams with his running while he works on his throwing mechanics.”
“That would leave Ewers, Louisville’s Tyler Shough and maybe even [Ohio State quarterback Will] Howard as options in Rounds 2 and 3.”
While some mock drafts have Dart going in the first round, most see Milroe slip to Day Two due to his rawness as a passer. Out of the options Tafur listed, Shough also seems unlikely due to his advanced age (he will be 26 by season’s end). That leaves Milroe, Ewers and Howard as reasonable options, complete with the developmental runway Brady desires to give his quarterback of the future.
The Raiders will be a team to watch on Day Two of the draft, when the team possibly decides who they intend to develop at quarterback for the foreseeable future.
