Market for Alex Smith will be strong, Ian Rapoport says
Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network thinks the Chiefs could get a solid trade haul in return for Alex Smith.
Kirk Larrabee - 3 hours ago 0
The Kansas City Chiefs should have no problem finding a trade partner for Alex Smith this offseason and could come away with a strong haul in return, according to insider Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network.
Rapoport, who reported over the weekend the Chiefs would be listening to offers for Smith this offseason, was a guest on The Day Shift on 610 Sports Radio Kansas City Monday, where he was asked about the level of interest in Alex Smith and whether or not the Chiefs will be able to trade him.
"A lot," Rapoport said. "A lot, and yes."
Smith is coming off his best statistical season of his career as he threw for 4,042 yards in 2017 with 26 touchdowns, five interceptions, and a 104.7 passer rating. Rapoport says it's that performance along with what Smith can bring to a team's quarterback room that makes him such a hot commodity.
"He was number one in the NFL in passer rating," Rapoport said. "He is a great person, so if you trade for him and then draft a quarterback high, you will get someone who's going to help him. All you need to do is ask Patrick Mahomes. It's actually an amazing thing what a great person Alex Smith is because he's dealt with a lot of crap in his career despite mostly awesome and has come out the other side of it."
There have been several teams speculated to be good fits for Smith, with different situations among each of them. There's the Jacksonville Jaguars and Buffalo Bills, playoff teams that are still fighting quarterback woes; there's the Arizona Cardinals, a team whose starting quarterback, Carson Palmer, just retired, but still has enough talent to be competitive next season; and there's a team like the Cleveland Browns, who might be interested in acquiring Smith to not just help the team start winning again but to be a mentor to a quarterback they might select in the draft.
The latter situation might not seem like an ideal one to many quarterbacks, but Smith has done it before, and Rapoport thinks he might not have a problem doing it again.
"If I was a franchise quarterback, would I really want to help the guy who is brought in to replace me? I don't know," Rapoport said. "For some ridiculous reason, Alex Smith has done it several times, and he's continued to be a great guy. He's going to end up benefiting from all this because first of all, he's probably going to wind up being traded somewhere great. Second of all, I think his legacy will sort of live on and people will know what a good person he is."
Trading Smith would free up $17 million in cap space for the Chiefs, a much-needed amount for a team currently projected to be over the cap next year, and would also allow them to replenish some of the draft picks they traded away in multiple trades in recent months. It cost a 2013 second round pick and a 2014 conditional pick (which turned out to be another second round pick) for the Chiefs to acquire Smith from the San Francisco 49ers in 2013, and Rapoport thinks the Chiefs could get even more in return for Smith than that.
"I think they might do better this time," Rapoport said. "He is a hot commodity, and they are in unbelievable position."
Originally Posted by Buckweath:
Talib is a soon to be 32 year-old CB. He has practically no value on the market.
And I would rather go for a younger CB who can potentially give us a few years of good to great play.
One thing is for sure, Talib has no value in a trade. He is just a throw-in. He is just like a guy you would sign off the free agent market.
I believe he'll still find plenty of ardent suitors, but personally I'd take a pass... we already have one aging, overpriced CB, so loading up another wouldnt be a wise move IMO
Lets get younger and cheaper, not older and more expensive [Reply]
Originally Posted by Easy 6:
I believe he'll still find plenty of ardent suitors, but personally I'd take a pass... we already have one aging, overpriced CB, so loading up another wouldnt be a wise move IMO
Lets get younger and cheaper, not older and more expensive
Adding Talib means you cut Revis
Cutting him saves KC 4.5m and Talibs cap hit is 12. Easily worth that difference. Especially for a 2yr 20m deal he would come with. [Reply]
Originally Posted by BossChief:
Some of you have no idea how good Talib is.
He and Peters would be the best CB duo in the league and he would change the whole defense.
KC is going to score a ton of points, opposing teams are going to throw a lot. Adding an ELITE corner would transform this defense.
Especially with getting Berry back.
Wow
I think money needs to be spent (wisely) on the defensive side of the ball. So you cut Hali, Johnson and Revis and I do think you need to look to draft a CB early if possible but Talib would still be a decent option.
I must say though I am very wary of a 32-year-old CB and that is without mentioning that he is a player who can cause trouble.
I'm sure Veach can do better than Talib. But one thing is for sure, if I am trading for Talib, I do not consider him having any value really. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Baby Lee:
Talib is up there with Romanowski and Incognito in the skill/dirtbag ratio.
Slap fights? Jewelry grabbing? Eye pokes?
Give me 53 kneelers and flag into stands throwers over one of those, thanks.
I like players with an edge on defense. I can live with moments like that if he makes an impact on the whole defense like he has shown to be able to do. [Reply]
Jags took a big risk exercising option on Bortles, and now they are blocked from pursuing upgrades at QB. Tough spot for a team trying to take the next step.