Raiders release quarterback Geno Smith ahead of free agency period

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/smith-geno/tdjItF6Q/"]Smith[/a], 35, is coming off a season for the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/las-vegas-raiders/Ei4Qg76E/"]Raiders[/a] in which he finished as the most-sacked quarterback in the league. The team originally signed him to a two-year, $75 million deal after his career year with the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/seattle-seahawks/f5h1oOee/"]Seattle Seahawks[/a] in 2024. [/p][p]He finished this past season with 3,025 passing yards, 19 touchdowns, and 17 interceptions.[/p][p]The Raiders were actively looking for a possible trade spot for Smith, but nothing landed. His 17 interceptions were the most by Smith in a single-season since his rookie year in 2013, when he threw 21 as the QB of the New York Jets. [/p][p]Now, the team looks ahead to the NFL Draft, where they are expected to take Heisman-winning quarterback Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 overall pick, who led Indiana to a perfect 16-0 season that was topped off with a National Championship.[/p][embed guid="8420bb53-ebbc-4981-ac5d-6db289debe26" url="https://x.com/AdamSchefter/status/2029951087185215565?s=20" social-type="twitter" /]