Smith was already locked into 2025 starting duties, given his $40 million cap hit this season, so Carroll’s high praise should be expected. Still, for a head coach like Carroll, who embraces competition across his roster, it’s nice to see. Smith’s pocket passing proclivities will likely prevent him from achieving elite QB1 status in fantasy football land, but he should serve as a borderline QB1/2 capable of producing multiple positively volatile performances.

Smith in a recent interview with The Athletic’s Ted Nguyen was careful not to give away anything about offensive coordinator Chip Kelly’s plans for 2025 but hinted that the team’s approach would be predicated on efficiency, the exact opposite of how Smith’s Seahawks offense operated in 2023 and 2024. “We’ve always had a rapport with one another, which has made the transition smooth,” Smith, 34, said of Kelly, who recruited Smith when he was the head coach at Oregon. “And so, learning this offense, I’ve been in three different systems in three years. And so I’ve been able to adjust, and that’s something that I’m good at. I can adjust. And so, just an adjustment period, but the offense is really good. I’m looking forward to it. Won’t give too many details, but we’re looking to be explosive and efficient.” Kelly is expected to ditch the fast-pace, simplistic offensive system he deployed as Eagles head coach from 2013 to 2015 in favor of a slower-paced system more in line with NFL norms. Kelly’s Ohios State offense in 2024 led the nation in EPA per play and was second to Miami in success rate. Kelly’s quarterback, Will Howard, ranked third in drop back EPA in 2024.

Geno Smith’s recent contract extension effectively locks him into the 2025 starting role. Could the Raiders add a quarterback this year, with the intent to let him compete with Smith in 2026? Yes, they certainly could, and doing so gels with Pete Carroll’s mantra of facilitating competition at all positions, at all times. While Cam Ward is all but guaranteed to have been drafted when the Raiders pick at No. 6, they could have their pick of the remaining quarterback class.

The max value extension includes $66.5 million in guarantees and ties him to the franchise through the 2027 season. Many had their doubts about the longevity of Smith in Las Vegas but it now appears the team will treat him as their clear starter for the coming three seasons before forced to address the position again. It’s a definite boost to the fantasy value of second-year phenom tight end Brock Bowers considering Smith’s hefty career tight end target rates.