Overview
- Smith remains the starter heading into the Chiefs game, even as outside analyses label him a player with the most to prove this week.
- Las Vegas is 2-4 through six games, with Smith leading the NFL at 10 interceptions and posting a 77.6 passer rating that ranks near the bottom of the league.
- Teammates Brock Bowers and Maxx Crosby publicly praised Smith’s leadership and composure, and coaches have not indicated a plan to bench him.
- ESPN’s Jordan Reid projected the Raiders to select South Carolina quarterback LaNorris Sellers at No. 9 in a 2026 mock draft, underscoring mounting speculation about the position.
- Newsweek highlighted a Pro Football Focus idea suggesting a trade for Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson as a possible path, while Smith’s two-year, $75 million extension includes a reported post-2026 out without a dead-cap hit.