So, you want to talk about the Las Vegas Raiders and that absolute rollercoaster under center? It’s been a wild ride. Honestly, looking back at the raiders qb last year, the 2025 season felt like a fever dream that nobody in Sin City wants to have again. We all thought the Pete Carroll hire was going to bring that Seattle "Win Forever" energy to the desert. Instead, we got a 3-14 record and a quarterback situation that left fans checking the draft order by mid-October.
It started with a trade that shook up the division. The Raiders sent a third-round pick to Seattle to get Geno Smith, reuniting him with Carroll. On paper, it actually made some sense. Geno was coming off back-to-back Pro Bowls and seemed like the adult in the room that Aidan O'Connell and Gardner Minshew couldn't quite be in 2024. But the "Silver and Black" version of Geno wasn't the "Comeback Player of the Year" version. It was... rough.
The Reality of the Raiders QB Last Year
If you looked at the box scores, you might have seen some decent yardage. But the tape told a much darker story. Geno Smith led the NFL in interceptions in 2025, tossing 17 picks. That's a lot of turnovers for a veteran who was supposed to be the "safe" option. He was the only quarterback in the league to cross that 15-interception threshold.
Why was it so bad? Well, it wasn't just on him. The offensive line was basically a revolving door of injuries and "who is that guy?" signings. The Raiders' quarterbacks were sacked on 11.1 percent of their dropbacks. That’s the highest rate in the NFL. You can’t expect a guy to bake a cake while the kitchen is on fire.
Breaking Down the Depth Chart
Behind Geno, the room was a bit of a mess. Aidan O'Connell, who many fans still had a soft spot for after his rookie flashes, basically became a permanent fixture on the sideline. He only really saw significant action in the season finale against the Chiefs.
- Geno Smith: The starter for 15 games. 17 interceptions. Way too many sacks.
- Aidan O'Connell: The "break glass in case of emergency" guy. He completed 10-of-22 passes for 102 yards in that Week 18 win.
- Cam Miller: The rookie from North Dakota State. He was a 6th-round flyer. We didn't see him in meaningful regular-season snaps, but he's got that FCS winner DNA.
- Gardner Minshew: Remember him? After the QB battle in '24, he was mostly a footnote in 2025, eventually being surpassed by the younger guys on the depth chart.
What Most People Get Wrong About the 2025 Season
People love to blame the QB for everything. It's the easiest narrative. "Geno's washed," they said. But look at the weapons. Brock Bowers, who is a literal beast, missed five games with a knee injury. When your safety blanket is on the trainer's table, life gets hard.
Plus, the running game was a work in progress. Ashton Jeanty, the rookie RB from Boise State, actually had a historic year, breaking Josh Jacobs' rookie scrimmage yards record with 1,321 yards. But even with Jeanty playing out of his mind, defenses didn't fear the pass. They dared Geno to beat them deep, and with that offensive line, he rarely had the three seconds required to let a play develop.
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The Turning Point
The Week 14 loss to the Broncos was probably the nail in the coffin. Geno looked rattled. The crowd at Allegiant Stadium was restless. It was the moment everyone realized the Pete Carroll era might be a one-year experiment.
You’ve got to feel for a guy like Jakobi Meyers, too. He was the most consistent receiver for a while, but even he got caught up in the chaos and was eventually traded to Jacksonville mid-season. It felt like the front office was waving the white flag while the coaching staff was still trying to "compete."
Key Takeaways from the Quarterback Struggles
- Turnovers Killed Momentum: You can't win in the AFC West giving the ball away 1.5 times a game.
- Protection Was Non-Existent: No QB succeeds when they're hit on every third dropback.
- The Scheme Mismatch: The offensive system didn't seem to play to Geno's strengths like it did in Seattle.
- Youth Movement Ignored: The Raiders waited too long to see what they had in the younger QBs.
Honestly, the raiders qb last year was a case study in how "win-now" moves can backfire if the foundation isn't solid. You can’t just drop a veteran QB into a crumbling infrastructure and expect a Super Bowl.
Actionable Insights for Raiders Fans Moving Forward
Now that the 2025 disaster is in the rearview mirror and the Raiders have secured the No. 1 overall pick for the 2026 NFL Draft, the path forward is clear. If you're following this team, here is what needs to happen to ensure the QB room doesn't collapse again:
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First, stop looking for "bridge" veterans. The Geno Smith trade proved that a mid-level veteran can't mask deep roster flaws. The Raiders must use that No. 1 pick on a franchise-altering quarterback. Whether it's the next big thing out of the SEC or a dual-threat star, they need a "rookie contract" window to rebuild the rest of the team.
Second, the offensive line needs a complete overhaul. It doesn't matter who is under center if they are getting sacked 11% of the time. Investing in the tackle positions is mandatory.
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Finally, keep an eye on the coaching search. With Carroll gone, the next hire needs to be a modern offensive mind who can build a system around a young QB's strengths rather than trying to recreate 2013-era football. The "raiders qb last year" story ends in failure, but it paved the way for a total reset that the franchise desperately needed.