Where does new Raiders’ starter stack up against opposing quarterbacks?
We’ve recently ranked the 14 quarterbacks who will face the Las Vegas Raiders in the 2025 season.
This exercise is to see where new Las Vegas starting quarterback Geno Smith ranked in this group. The best way to do this is by tiers.
TIER 1
Patrick Mahomes (Oct. 19 at Kansas City Chiefs, 10 a.m., CBS, Week 18), Jalen Hurts )Dec. 14 at Philadelphia Eagles, 10 a.m., FOX), Justin Herbert (Sept 15 Los Angeles Chargers, 7 p.m., ESPN, Nov. 30, 1:25 p.m.) Jayden Daniels (Sept. 21 at Washington Commanders, 10 a.m., FOX).
These are the four best quarterback (they have six games against these Tier 1 signal callers) and it’s a power group.
Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images
TIER 2
Dak Prescott (Nov. 17 Dallas Cowboys, 5:20 p.m., ESPN), C.J. Stroud (Dec. 21 at Houston Texans, 1:25 p.m., CBS), Bo Nix (Nov. 6 at Denver Broncos, 5:15 p.m. Amazon, Dec. 7, CBS, 1:05 p.m.), Trevor Lawrence (Nov. 2 Trevor Jacksonville Jaguars, 1:05 p.m., FOX), Drake Maye (Sept. 7 at New England Patriots, 10 a.m., CBS), Caleb Williams (Sept. 28 Chicago Bears, 1:25 p.m., CBS).
This is the highest[populated quarterback tier on the Raiders’ schedule and it consists of very good (not great) players or player who are trending that way. Smith belongs in this tier, toward the bottom. But this is a solid group to be part of.
Photo by Johnnie Izquierdo/Getty Images
TIER 3
Daniel Jones or Anthony Richardson (Oct. 5 at Indianapolis Colts, 10 a.m., FOX), Cam Ward (Oct. 12 Tennessee Titans, 1:05 p.m., FOX), Russell Wilson, Jameis Winston or Jaxson Dart (Week 17 (TBA) New York Giants, TBA., TBA) Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, Shedeur Sanders, Dillon Gabriel or Deshaun Watson (Nov. 23 Cleveland Browns, 1:05 p.m., CBS)
This is the third and final tier of Raiders’ opposing quarterbacks and its a steep fall from tier 2. There are some youngsters who may become quality players, but it may take time. Lots of question marks in this group and Smith needs to do his part to help the Raiders cruise in this four games.
Conclusion:
Last year, the Raiders’ starters would have been in Tier 2, so Smith is a solid upgrade and he keeps gives the Raiders an edge in some games. But there are a lot of quality opposing quarterbacks, so Smith has work cut out for him as much as the Las Vegas defense does.