The Las Vegas Raiders are staring down a brutal reality as their dismal 2025 season spirals toward an early end. Sitting at a painful 2-10 record, the Silver and Black are poised for a prime spot in the 2026 NFL Draft—potentially in the top five. But for a franchise desperate for a quarterback savior, the latest buzz from experts is nothing short of a gut punch: there might not be a signal-caller worth grabbing that high.
With the draft still months away, NFL analyst Charles Davis delivered some harsh truth to Raiders fans clinging to hope. In a candid chat on the Locked on Raiders podcast with host Q Myers, Davis was blunt when asked if any quarterback prospect screams “top of the board” material.
“No, I do not,” Davis admitted. “We hear this hype every year, but 2025 was supposed to be a quarterback goldmine. Preseason chatter had everyone buzzing about a ‘wealth of riches.’ Fast forward to now, and Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza is leading the pack—but even he’s not the kind of can’t-miss phenom that demands a top-five frenzy.”
Davis emphasized that things could shift dramatically as the college season unfolds. “There’s a long road ahead, and drafts always surprise us,” he noted. “But right here, right now? We’re not fitting a bunch of QBs for suits and shipping them to the top 10. That’s just not the vibe.”
This sobering assessment comes at a crossroads for the Raiders, whose quarterback woes have defined their forgettable campaign. Veteran Geno Smith, the ex-Seahawks gunslinger brought in to steady the ship, has instead become a lightning rod for criticism. Amid swirling rumors that his stint in Vegas could be a one-and-done disaster, Smith addressed the media on December 3 with his trademark cool.
“I’m all about the day-to-day grind and stacking improvements,” Smith shared, per ESPN’s Ryan McFadden. “As a player, that’s your focus. … I’ve got a bright future ahead—I’m certain of that.”
Smith’s optimism shines through, but his on-field output tells a different story. In Week 13’s clash against the Los Angeles Chargers, he completed 18 of 23 passes for a modest 165 yards, tossing two touchdowns against one interception. It wasn’t a total meltdown, but it highlighted the inconsistency that’s plagued the Raiders all year.
Enter CBS Sports analyst Damien Harris, who didn’t mince words in calling for a clean break. On the November 30 episode of “CBS Sports HQ,” Harris laid out why it’s time to turn the page on Smith and rethink the entire offense.
“A quarterback change is priority one,” Harris declared. “Geno hasn’t delivered—turnovers, poor field vision, you name it. They’re not scheming creatively to unleash Ashton Jeanty in the run game, and Brock Bowers? He’s flashed brilliance when healthy, but injuries and lackluster play-calling have stifled him.”
Harris didn’t stop there, pointing to the ripple effects of trading away key receiver Jakobi Meyers, which left the passing attack threadbare. “This team needs upgrades everywhere,” he stressed, “but I’m red-circling quarterback as the glaring weak spot.”
As the Raiders limp through their final games, the path forward looks murky. A high draft pick offers a lifeline, but without a standout QB in sight, the front office might need to get creative—perhaps trading down, targeting free agents, or even sticking with Smith for another go. One thing’s clear: the “unthinkable” drought of elite quarterback talent could force some tough decisions in Sin City. Raiders Nation, buckle up—the offseason drama is just heating up.