Tom Brady, Geno Smith, and the Las Vegas Raiders are heading into a highly experimental season. It’s a new group of familiar names who have had success elsewhere, but can they recreate that success together?
At quarterback, the experiment might be short-lived by default with Smith already in his mid-30s. Thus, the QB room could look much different as soon as 2026, according to a recent mock draft.
Geno Smith’s Successor Could Be in the 2026 NFL Draft for a Bargain
In an early 2026 mock draft by CSN analyst Max Dorsey on May 25, the Raiders were projected to take LaNorris Sellers at No. 41 overall in Round 2. PFSN was sold on Sellers, slotting him as the No. 2 overall pick in their own mock draft the day prior.
“Though LaNorris Sellers isn’t the consensus QB1 in the 2026 class, he might have the best physical tools of any quarterback in college football. He’s strong-armed, athletic, tough to sack, and more accurate than he gets credit for,” PFSN’s Jacob Infante wrote.
Is LaNorris Sellers QB1 of the 2026 NFL Draft?
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Getting the projected No. 2 pick in the second round of the 2026 NFL Draft isn’t quite like landing Shedeur Sanders in the fifth round of the 2025 draft, but it would still be a steal.
Of course, Sellers has room to grow. He threw 18 touchdowns and seven interceptions in 2024 for the South Carolina Gamecocks. In total, he’s accounted for 28 career touchdowns in college. Still, he’s trending in the right direction, and his touchdown-to-interception ratio is already promising.
Exploring How Smith Could Separate From Raiders
Smith just arrived, but his time with the Raiders may already be on a countdown. If Las Vegas goes with Sellers, it raises the question: How do they move on from Smith?
Based on his contract, the groundwork already seems to be in place.
According to Spotrac, the Raiders will be financially incentivized to part ways with Smith as early as the end of the 2026 season, which could line up perfectly with Sellers’ development. That would give the rookie a year to learn behind a veteran before taking over in 2027.
Depending on how well Smith plays, Las Vegas might even be able to flip him for draft capital.
If everything goes according to plan — Sellers living up to his upside in 2025, slipping into the second round in 2026, and Smith holding things down just long enough — the Raiders could be looking at a seamless QB transition.
It’s early, but the signs are there. Now it’s just a matter of execution.