The word competition is thrown around so much in the Pete Carroll era, “comPete” became a term to describe the Las Vegas Raiders head coach’s philosophy.
We saw this manifest in a variety of ways, namely,
Jordan Meredith winning the starting center gig and Jackson Powers-Johnson shifting to right guard and fighting for the gig with veteran Alex Cappa. Defensively, Kyu Blu Kelly impressed Carroll and his coaching staff so much, Kelly is now a starting outside cornerback. And, more recently, veteran running back Raheem Mostert ascended past Zamir White and was active in his first game as a Raider this past Sunday.
But what about quarterback?
After all, Geno Smith leads the league with seven interceptions thrown, is below the league average completion percentage of 65.3 percent at 63.8 percent, and is the fifth-most sacked signal caller in the NFL at 12. The 35-year-old quarterback is coming off a two-touchdowns, three-interception outing in a 25-24 Week 4 home loss to the Chicago Bears. And, just two weeks ago, Smith threw three picks with no touchdowns in a 20-9 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers.
Also, take this into consideration: Joe Flacco, who is second in the league with six interceptions throw, was benched by the Cleveland Browns and the team will turn to rookie Dillon Gabriel at the all-important signal caller spot.
All logical reasons for a quarterback competition in Las Vegas.
No dice, says Carroll.
“No. Nope. We’re not there,” the Raiders head coach said when asked if he considered turning to backup Kenny Pickett to replace Smith after throwing a trio of interceptions this past Sunday.
You know a situation is a little dire when even eternal optimists see something going awry and deviation from the current path is ideal. Such as:
But as Carroll noted, Smith is entrenched as the starter. And it’s easy to see why there won’t be a fight for the QB1 role in Las Vegas when you look at: Smith’s contract, Carroll’s staunch belief in the quarterback, and Pickett’s resume.
Tip of the Cap
Smith is the Silver & Black’s $75 million man.
When he was acquired from the Seattle Seahawks via trade — to reunite Carroll with the quarterback he helped resurrect — Smith and the Raiders agreed to a two-year, $75 million contract extension that runs through the 2027 season.
The Raiders are on the hook for Smith’s $24 million base salary, $16 million roster bonus, and $40 million guaranteed salary this year. In 2026, the quarterback’s base salary jumps to $26.5 million and his guaranteed salary is $18.5 million (and there’s no roster bonus). In 2027, Smith’s base salary is $39.5 million with no roster bonus or guaranteed coin. And that’s the potential out the Raiders have as there would be no dead cap tied to Smith. Smith’s dead money figure as of now is $58.5 million and in 2026, it’s an $18.5 million sum, according to Over The Cap.
On the money factor alone, Las Vegas is obligated to continue to see if it can get a return on investment when it comes to their starting quarterback. Smith was acquired to provide Carroll a familiar face and veteran and provide a steady presence at the all-important quarterback position. It’s been anything but, however, on coin alone, the Raiders aren’t going to bench him until things go awfully awry. (And I get the sentiment from fans it’s already there).
Carroll’s Corner
To say the Raiders’ head coach and quarterback are tied at the hip would be an understatement.
Smith spent four seasons with Carroll in Seattle, two of which Smith was Carroll’s starting quarterback: 2022 and 2023. After six straight seasons of toiling around as a backup that rarely played, Smith earned Seattle’s full-time starting gig in 2022 at age 32 and for the next three seasons, captained the Seahawks offense.
Once Carroll returned to the coaching game in Las Vegas, he sought and — with the help of general manager John Spytek — the Raiders facilitated a swap for the Smith.
But despite Smith struggling mightily in terms of taking care of the football though the first four games of the Carroll era in Las Vegas, the head coach is devoted to his signal caller.
“He’s already done it. I thought he did a masterful job of accepting the responsibility, that you guys will all think is so obvious,” Carroll said on how Smith clears what happened in Week 4. “The turnovers — there’s a lot of reasons things happen, but as the quarterback, you got to shoulder it, and he did exactly what he should do. He took a day that he needed, and another day that he needed, and he’s back to full speed, ready to go. And his brain is on, his mind is clicking, and he’s excited about this opportunity.”
Carroll appeared flummoxed with the follow up question: At what point does it become a serious concern, regarding Smith’s play and ability to bounce back.
“I don’t know that gauge. I don’t know what you’re asking me. I don’t know what that gauge would be. At what point?,” Carroll explained. “I don’t have a gauge for that. I’ve never gotten to that point.”
Pickett Fence
Acquired from the Cleveland Browns for a 2026 fifth-round pick, Pickett was deemed expendable after a hamstring injury kept him sidelined and Cleveland drafting two quarterbacks in the 2025 draft along with veteran Flacco in the room. Pickett was running with the first-team unit before the injury, but got lost in the shuffle.
Now, the 27-year-old who was the 20th overall pick in the 2022 draft is Smith’s backup in Las Vegas as the Raiders needed an experienced QB2 after Aidan O’Connell suffered a broken wrist. Having started 25 of his career 30 games, Pickett flamed out with Pittsburgh and after two seasons, he went to Philadelphia before being traded to Cleveland.
Pickett remains an enigma, however, and while he’s a quarterback that can make all the throws with good mobility, he’s as inconsistent as the play callers he’s had in his four seasons in the NFL. Basically, he’s O’Connell with a stronger arm and better athleticism.
