The Raiders kept chopping at the 2026 roster on Friday, lining up a divorce with starting quarterback Geno Smith while also moving on from veteran guard Alex Cappa. The twin decisions underline how quickly Las Vegas is turning the page after last season’s collapse.
The QB reset button
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported the Raiders are releasing Smith, barring a trade before the start of the new league year on Wednesday. The move would open $8 million in salary cap space while leaving $18.5 million in dead money, per Schefter.
Smith is poised to be a one-and-done starter in Las Vegas. In 15 starts for the Raiders in 2025, he completed 67.4% of his passes for 3,025 yards, 19 touchdowns and an NFL-high 17 interceptions, according to Pro Football Reference.
Geno posts, then lets it ride
Not long after the news hit, Smith posted a brief message on social media: “ALL PRAISE IS DUE TO THE MOST HIGH.” The post read like a shrug and a signoff, especially with the league calendar about to flip.
Cappa is the next domino
Later Friday, the Raiders announced they released Cappa, an interior lineman brought in ahead of the 2025 season. Cappa played all 17 games last year and made eight starts, per the AP report and his Pro Football Reference game log.
Money talks, and so does the draft
The Smith decision looks like a cap call first and a football call second, but the message is the same either way. Las Vegas is clearing room, creating options and setting the table for a new quarterback plan as free agency approaches and the draft board comes into focus.
The Raiders now head into March with openings at quarterback and along the interior line, two spots that shaped last season’s frustration. If this is the teardown phase, it is happening fast and in public.
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Dice City Sports editor Mark Hebert covers the Vegas Golden Knights, Las Vegas Raiders, Athletics, and UNLV baseball and softball. He has 24 years of journalism experience, is also a senior reporter at Exhibit City News, and previously covered the Dallas Stars and Texas Rangers. Follow him on X or connect on LinkedIn.
