Who Should I Start? Geno Smith or Jaylen Waddle

Wednesday, February 25, 8:43 AM

New Las Vegas Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak said that the team is "trying to see every possible avenue we can go next year at quarterback" and that incumbent quarterback Geno Smith is "definitely one of those options." Smith battled through a miserable season in his first year with the Raiders in 2025. Across 15 starts, the 35-year-old completed 67.4% of his pass attempts for 3,025 yards, 19 touchdowns, and 17 interceptions. The Raiders went 2-13 in Smith's starts, and Las Vegas fired former head coach Pete Caroll at the conclusion of the year. Smith is just one year removed from throwing for over 4,300 yards with the Seattle Seahawks in 2024, and he made back-to-back Pro Bowl appearances in 2022 and 2023. He could have more in the tank in a more favorable offensive environment than the one he experienced in 2025. However, the Raiders are widely expected to select University of Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza with the number one overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. If that happens, Smith would likely profile as a temporary starter in Las Vegas at best, if he even remains on the team's roster.

Tuesday, February 24, 7:05 AM

ESPN's Marcel Louis-Jacque reports that the Miami Dolphins are not actively shopping running back De'Von Achane or wide receiver Jaylen Waddle for trades this offseason. The Dolphins view Achane and Waddle as "important parts of their franchise," which is in a rebuild with a new front office and coaching staff going into the 2026 season. The Dolphins will listen to offers for both players, but the plan is for them both to remain in Miami, according to general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan. The team already released receiver Tyreek Hill (knee) and is expected to trade or release quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, but they'd like to build around Achane and Waddle after they both had big seasons in 2025. Achane, 24, had his best season in Year 3, rushing for 1,350 yards and eight TDs on 238 carries while adding 67 catches for 488 yards and four more scores in 16 games. Waddle, meanwhile, bounced back in 2025 as the team's leading receiver with a 64-910-6 line in 16 games played.