One Day 3 quarterback is the perfect fit to be the future Las Vegas Raiders QB if Geno Smith doesn't work out long term
The Las Vegas Rateriders landed their quarterback in Geno Smith, who revitalized his career with the Seattle Seahawks after playing the backup role with the New York Jets, New York Giants, and Los Angeles Chargers. Now, he's one of the best in the league. It's a crazy, wild story that Smith has carved out for […]
The Las Vegas Rateriders landed their quarterback in Geno Smith, who revitalized his career with the Seattle Seahawks after playing the backup role with the New York Jets, New York Giants, and Los Angeles Chargers. Now, he's one of the best in the league.
It's a crazy, wild story that Smith has carved out for himself. Everyone loved an underdog, or the story of a guy who bounced back majorly — had it all and then had it all taken away from him, just to get it all back. It's the story that casual fans root for, not just fans of the Raiders. But, the Raiders and Smith want the two sides to come together on an extension that would make him the quarterback of the future in Las Vegas.
The Raiders have long awaited a quarterback, one to be called the QB of the future. You can all argue that Derek Carr was that, but, Smith is better right now than Carr is. There is an issue with giving Smith that title, though. He is 34, which is somewhat old to be calling him the QB of the future. Now, I have defended that stance time and time again and I will continue to, but let's play the other side for a minute.
I feel like we have seen this before in a way. Jimmy Garoppolo did it with the San Francisco 49ers after leaving the New England Patriots. That didn't work out. Could this be a situation like that? I doubt it, but you never know, and if it is a possibility, the Raiders need a backup plan. I wouldn't be surprised if they took a quarterback late in the 2025 NFL Draft.
If they do go that route, there is one guy who makes the most sense, and after sitting for a year or two, could really be the future of the franchise.
Raiders could target Will Howard late in 2025 NFL Draft
Having a backup plan and staying ready is not something the Raiders have been very good at over the last few years. This time they could be ready, especially if they take one of their many Day 3 picks in the 2025 NFL Draft and use it to pick up Ohio State quarterback Will Howard.
Connections are everything in the NFL, even if it doesn't seem like it. In this case, the Raiders have one. Their new offensive coordinator, Chip Kelly, was the offensive coordinator for Howard last year, leading Ohio State to a National Championship with the best offense in the country, which also allowed Howard to have his best season.
The two are very familiar with one another.
“He’s one of the best coaches I’ve had, man," Howard said at the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine. "One of my favorite people I’ve been around.”
The offense that the Raiders are going to run in the NFL will be very similar to what Ohio State did, but with all of the NFL twists needed. This would allow Howard to be ahead of the game as a rookie, where the rookie QBs usually come in and have to learn a whole new system with new terminology, and who knows what else. Having the familiarity would be huge for Howard.
And, you can see the talent on tape — Howard can sling the ball.
Last season Howard finished as one of the best deep ball passers in the league, where Pro Football Focus has him rated at 96.3 when throwing the deep ball. He's also one of the best passers in the league when he has a clean pocket, with a 91.6 grade there. Howard threw for 4,000 yards last season with 35 touchdowns. Sure, that was with weapons stacked all around him and a great, at times, offensive line. However, it was largely because he was also in a very good offense.
In that same offense in the NFL, he could thrive. The Raiders should most certainly have him sit a year or two behind Geno, and have the still 23-year-old quarterback take over when the time is right. You can look at it as a Patrick Mahomes with the Kansas City Chiefs, or Jordan Love with the Green Bay Packers type of situation.
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The Raiders need to get this right regardless.
