Chiefs Rival Makes Major Commitment to New QB

The Kansas City Chiefs fully recognize their responsibility to adapt from last season heading into 2025. Kansas City lost only one regular season game at full strength and won the AFC yet again, but a shellacking in Super Bowl LIX called for some major roster upgrades. 

Not only did the Philadelphia Eagles put an end to their supremacy, their closest conference and divisional rivals proved they are in hot pursuit too. There will be no shortage of aggression from this group with the latest move coming on the part of the Las Vegas Raiders. 

The Raiders have signed quarterback Geno Smith to a two-year contract extension worth up to $85 million per NFL media's Ian Rapoport. The deal comes with $66.5 million guaranteed. 

Vegas had hinted at wanting to get an extension done for Smith earlier this week at the annual league meetings. Now, they lock him into the long-term deal he desired back when he was on the trading block earlier this offseason. 

Smith saw a revitalization of his career with the Seahawks, posting the best numbers of his career in the last three seasons with 12,226 yards and 71 touchdowns in that span. 

He also reunites with new Raiders head coach Pete Carroll who he played for from 2020 through 2023. Smith may not be the centerpiece beyond those years in this extension, but is a more than capable bridge for the Raiders as they continue to rebuild their team. 

Meanwhile in the West, the Denver Broncos and Los Angeles Chargers both made the postseason last year. As the odd man out, the Raiders are hoping to get to that point. 

Kansas City's rivals have given chase in some highly contested battles and the Broncos (against mostly reserves) did count a win against them at the end of the regular season. 

While Chiefs offseason hopes to position them even better in fending off the likes of the Buffalo Bills and the Baltimore Ravens, the AFC West is steadily improving at the same time.