Things keep getting worse for former UCLA head coach Chip Kelly’s Las Vegas Raiders offense. On Sunday the Raiders lost 40-6 and quarterback Geno Smith continues to look more like a problem than a solution for Las Vegas.
Not a rebuild, but not competing
The timeline of this Raiders’ team was always going to be a bit expedited. Pete Carroll is in his first season with the team but he’s the oldest head coach in the league, with the 74-year old not having time for a rebuild. Las Vegas acquired Smith.
Behind schedule
Raiders Wire writer Justin Melo wrote about if the Raiders should consider benching Smith due to the amount of turnovers he’s racked up through five games.
“The Raiders acquired Smith from the Seattle Seahawks during the offseason in exchange for a 2025 third-round pick. Smith, who then signed a two-year, $75 million contract extension with the Raiders, was reunited with head coach Pete Carroll, who previously coached him in Seattle. That makes benching the veteran quarterback a difficult conversation. He’s tied to the head coach,” Melo wrote. “The Raiders acquired Smith because they wanted to compete this season. They’re 1-4 and Smith’s recurring turnover issues are a major problem. Some difficult conversations should be occurring between John Spytek and Carroll.”
Weaknesses overshadowing recent top picks
The season got off to a good start, with the Raiders picking up a road win over the New England Patriots but since then it’s been a mess, particularly on offense. First round pick Ashton Jeanty looks like a great running back but the Raiders’ offensive line has been such a mess, Jeanty has had limited chances to show off his skills.
Last year’s first round pick, tight end Brock Bowers, has been dealing with a knee injury that kept him out of Sunday’s game but even when Bowers has been on the field, he hasn’t looked like the dynamic player he was last season.
Smith leads the NFL with nine interceptions, left tackle Kolton Miller is out with an ankle sprain and the only real positive for the Raiders’ offense has been wideout Tre Tucker. The Raiders’ offense was expected to be a strong point for the team under Kelly but that hasn’t been the case during the team’s four-game losing streak.
Where do the Raiders turn from here?
They have backups Aidan O’Connell and Kenny Pickett on the roster but neither of those two are likely the Raiders’ quarterback of the future. There aren’t many can’t-miss quarterback prospects in next year’s NFL Draft and the Raiders aren’t likely to acquire a starting-caliber QB in a mid-season trade, which limits their options and makes sticking with Smith seem more likely.
Could Chip Kelly’s job be in danger?
It seems unlikely that the Raiders would move on from Kelly with so many apparent weaknesses on their offense. The offensive line is in shambles, the quarterback play has been problematic and the Raiders’ offense didn’t have success without Kelly in 2024. Kelly will likely spend at least the rest of the 2025 season with the Raiders but it will be interesting to see where Las Vegas goes to improve an offense where they’ve already spent so many resources in uplifting.
This article originally appeared on UCLA Wire: Does Chip Kelly have a QB controversy brewing as Geno Smith continues to struggle?
Reporting by Dylan McNeill, UCLA Wire / UCLA Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
