Finding out who is the raiders qb depends entirely on whether you’re looking at the roster today or the terrifying uncertainty of tomorrow.
Right now, as we sit in the early weeks of January 2026, the man at the top of the depth chart is Geno Smith. The Raiders traded a 2025 third-round pick to the Seattle Seahawks last March to bring the veteran in, hoping he’d be the stabilizing force the franchise desperately lacked. He signed a multi-year extension shortly after arriving. But if you watched any of the 2025 season, you know "stable" isn't exactly the word fans are using.
It was a rough year in Sin City.
The Current Depth Chart: Who Is the Raiders QB Right Now?
The Raiders finished the 2025 regular season with a dismal 3-14 record. While Geno Smith started 15 games, he didn’t exactly set the world on fire. He threw for 3,025 yards, 19 touchdowns, and 17 interceptions. Honestly, the most telling stat wasn't the picks—it was the sacks. Geno was dropped a league-high 55 times.
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Behind him, the room is a bit of a reclamation project:
- Kenny Pickett: Acquired to provide veteran backup depth, Pickett saw action in six games and started two when Geno was banged up. He threw just one touchdown against two interceptions.
- Aidan O'Connell: The "old guard" of the young guys. O'Connell is still on the roster but has largely been relegated to the QB3 role after the Geno Smith trade. He appeared in only one game during the 2025 campaign.
- Cam Miller: The rookie out of North Dakota State. He spent the season buried on the depth chart and eventually ended up on the reserve list, but he remains a name to watch for development.
Why Everyone Is Talking About the No. 1 Pick
Here is the thing. Even though Geno Smith is technically the starter today, almost nobody expects him to be the starter by Week 1 of the 2026 season. Because the Raiders were so bad in 2025, they clinched the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
You don't hold the first pick and stick with a 35-year-old veteran who just led you to three wins.
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The name on everyone’s lips is Fernando Mendoza. The Indiana University star is the heavy favorite to be the new face of the franchise. He just won the Heisman Trophy, threw 41 touchdowns, and led the Hoosiers to a 15-0 record and a national title game. Some scouts are already calling him the next Andrew Luck.
General Manager John Spytek and the Raiders brass have a massive decision to make. Do they take Mendoza and reset the clock, or do they trade back to stock up on offensive linemen to actually protect whoever is under center?
The Coaching Factor
The Raiders also fired Pete Carroll after just one season. Yeah, that experiment ended as quickly as it started. Currently, the team is interviewing offensive-minded candidates like Matt Nagy (Chiefs OC) and Kevin Stefanski (former Browns HC).
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Whoever takes the job will ultimately decide the fate of the quarterback room. A coach like Nagy might want a mobile, young star like Mendoza, while a veteran coach might try to squeeze one more year out of Geno while a rookie develops.
What This Means for the 2026 Season
If you're a fan trying to keep track, it’s a bit of a mess. Geno Smith is the incumbent, but he's "questionable" for the start of training camp with an ankle injury. His cap hit is a massive $26.5 million for 2026. The Raiders could keep him as a bridge, but the fan base is restless.
The "Raiders Way" has always been about big swings. And there is no bigger swing than a Heisman winner at No. 1.
Actionable Next Steps for Raiders Fans
- Watch the NFL Combine: Keep a close eye on Fernando Mendoza's measurements. If he clears the 6-foot-5 mark and shows off that "Andrew Luck" mobility, the No. 1 pick is essentially locked in.
- Monitor the Coaching Search: The minute a new Head Coach is hired, look at their historical QB preferences. If they hire a "QB whisperer" from the college ranks, expect a rookie starter in Week 1.
- Check the Free Agency OL Market: The Raiders have nearly $98 million in cap space. If they spend big on veteran guards and tackles in March, it’s a signal they are preparing the nest for a rookie quarterback.
The identity of the Raiders quarterback is currently Geno Smith, but by April, that answer is almost certainly changing.