Geno Smith Reportedly Cut by Raiders amid Fernando Mendoza Rumors, How Move Impacts NFL Salary Cap

After just one season with the Las Vegas Raiders, Geno Smith is on his way out.

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Raiders released Smith ahead of the NFL Draft, where they are widely expected to select Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza at No. 1 overall.

The move will save the team $8 million in cap space and leave them with $18.5 million in dead money.

Smith, 35, was traded to the Raiders from the Seattle Seahawks ahead of the 2025 campaign. Shortly after the trade, he agreed to a two-year, $85.5 million deal with Las Vegas, $66.6 million of which was guaranteed.

Unfortunately for Smith, the breakout he had in Seattle didn't follow him to Las Vegas. In 15 games, he threw for 3,025 yards, 19 touchdowns and 17 interceptions. The Raiders finished the year 3-14, firing head coach Pete Carroll at the end of the season.

After Las Vegas finished the season with the worst record and landed the No. 1 pick, it became clear that Smith's time with the team could be coming to an end as the Raiders looked toward the future.

Las Vegas will almost certainly take Indiana's Fernando Mendoza with the top pick this year. Mendoza led the Hoosiers to a national championship behind 3,535 yards, 41 touchdowns and six interceptions, along with 276 rushing yards and seven scores on the ground.

Bleacher Report's NFL Scouting Department considers Mendoza to be the No. 4 overall prospect and the top quarterback in this year's draft class.