CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Carolina Panthers need a spark behind Bryce Young, and a familiar face just hit the open market. The Las Vegas Raiders plan to release veteran quarterback Geno Smith before the new league year kicks off next Wednesday. The move cuts Smith loose after a disastrous 2025 campaign where he tossed a league-worst 17 interceptions and took 55 sacks. But in Charlotte, general manager Dan Morgan and head coach Dave Canales might view the 35-year-old not as a distressed asset, but as the ideal safety net for their franchise starter.
Smith’s single season in the desert was a brutal reminder of how quickly NFL fortunes turn. He threw for just 3,025 yards and 19 touchdowns as the Raiders limped to a 3-14 finish. Las Vegas is clearing the runway to draft Indiana prodigy Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 overall pick, eating an $18.5 million dead-cap hit just to get Smith off the books.
However, Canales knows exactly what Smith can do when protected and properly schemed. The two worked together intimately in Seattle. During the 2022 season, with Canales serving as his quarterbacks coach, Smith erupted for 4,282 passing yards and 30 touchdowns, leading the NFL with a 69.8-percent completion rate. You could almost feel the electricity in Lumen Field that year every time Smith dropped back. He played with a quiet swagger, and Canales was the architect behind that confidence. Bringing that specific energy to Charlotte could provide an incredible boost to the quarterback room.
“He’s going to do wonders… He’s going to come in and have the right energy and the right mindset, and it’s going to be uplifting.”
— Geno Smith, discussing Dave Canales
The Panthers are navigating a highly competitive offseason. They captured the NFC South crown in 2025, pushing into the playoffs and signaling that Young’s development is firmly on track. Young no longer needs a pure mentor holding his hand; he needs a competitor who can push him in practice and keep the offense humming if an injury strikes.
Current backup Andy Dalton is 37 and entering the final year of his deal. Morgan recently told reporters he wants a “younger, mobile option” behind Young. While Smith turns 36 in October, his legs remain lively, and his absolute mastery of Canales’ offensive system makes him a rare plug-and-play insurance policy. Carolina can likely secure Smith on a low-cost, veteran-minimum contract since the Raiders are still footing the bill for his 2026 guarantees.
Carolina possesses the defensive core and the offensive structure to defend their division title. Upgrading the backup quarterback spot from Dalton to Smith gives Canales a veteran who inherently understands his play-calling rhythm. If Morgan decides to trade or cut Dalton—freeing up a few million in cap space—expect the Panthers to immediately speed-dial Smith’s camp. The legal tampering window opens Monday, and Smith will be one of the most monitored bridge-quarterback names on the wire.
