When the Las Vegas Raiders traded for Geno Smith, they surely didn't imagine this.
Through 11 weeks of the 2025 NFL season, Smith has thrown more interceptions than anyone in the league.
The Raiders have gone from a team that looked like a sneaky playoff contender to one wondering when it'll get to draft its next QB.
At least right now, they'd hold the fifth pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
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And in a new mock draft put out by ESPN's Matt Miller, he does project the Raiders to take a quarterback.
Which one? Alabama's Ty Simpson.
"Geno Smith has not worked out in Las Vegas, and a quarterback reboot is coming," Miller writes. "Perhaps the Raiders could be a destination for a veteran like Kyler Murray or Mac Jones should either be available, but Las Vegas is also a prime candidate to draft a quarterback should one be on the board. Simpson has started only 10 games in college, but he's playing with impeccable poise and timing after developing for three seasons. The 6-foot-2, 208-pounder has thrown 22 touchdowns to just two picks this season. Simpson's inexperience will need to be vetted by scouts, but his instincts and processing are starter level."
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Simpson's film pops. He can make all the throws.
As Miller writes, it's always tricky when a guy doesn't have a longer resume of college action to look at.
But sometimes, the passer looks so clearly ready that he gets to be a top-10 pick anyway. That's the case with Simpson.
The Raiders wouldn't have to start him right away if they wanted to keep Smith around as a bridge until Simpson is ready. But clearly, the Smith era won't last too much longer in Vegas.
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