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 Red Dawg:
Why would a team trade for him when they are 98% we will cut him.
It comes down to the desperate need for a competent winning experienced QB. And there are not many right now. IF teams waited until we cut him he gets far more expensive and the competition gets even more intense and costly. Why not assume the 17mil Alex is due and a couple of high picks as opposed to competing in the UFA open market that will have you paying far more than 17 mil for a QB. E.g. IF Wash franchise tags Cousins he will get in the neighborhood of 34 mil a year.
The desperate need is HUGE for a legit NFL QB who has shown he can compete without turning the ball over are few and far between and will require a King's Ransom in draft picks and we should get it.The Chiefs FO want as much bidding competition as possible because then we just get more and more until the deal is done. We desperately need picks and you can't improve your depth or talent in the draft without picks. We cut Smith we get no picks. [Reply]
I would love for Alex Smith to end up in Jacksonville and firmly install a "home playoff loss in division round" cap on their potential for the next 3-4 years.
Originally Posted by duncan_idaho:
I would love for Alex Smith to end up in Jacksonville and firmly install a "home playoff loss in division round" cap on their potential for the next 3-4 years.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
sounds like Smith still has your ass feeling sore... :-) [Reply]
Originally Posted by mschiefs1984:
What sense does this make?
Why cut him when they can get SOMETHING FOR HIM. Everyone pretty well knows that Mahomes is going to be the starter week 1 why does it matter if Alex is called the starter during the early part of the offseason
We don't know squat. The longer this goes on the more I don't like it. Sutton is still here and you know what? He is staying. That is why he's still here. Alex ain't gone until he's gone. So get him gone for gawds sake. It's like Clark hates us. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Dante84:
It's basically down to 4 teams, right?
1A - Browns (2 first round picks, 3 second round picks, 1 third round pick) *In position to draft a top qb.
1B - Bills (2 first round picks, 2 second round picks, 1 third round pick) *Not in position to draft a top qb
3 - Jaguars (1 first round pick, 1 second round pick, 1 third round pick) *Not in position to draft a top QB
4 - Cardinals (1 first round pick, 1 second round pick, 1 third round pick) *Not in position to draft a top QB
No. There are variables for other teams as well. Teams like the Vikes have both Bradford and Keenum as UFAs. Then there's the question of whether Eli is a NYG or Cousins is a Skin still. NYJ?
I wouldn't break the list down to draft pick ammo, necessarily. Teams can get create with upgrading or downgrading draft picks.
... and Smith could very well shoot the bird at all, and retire. :-) [Reply]
I recognized him for what he was before the trade to KC even happened. I called it then and never saw anything to change my mind.
Whether you were right or wrong doesn't necessarily make your ass feel any better from Smith "defiling your team with his presence" as your starting QB of 5 years. :-) [Reply]
Originally Posted by Dante84:
It's basically down to 4 teams, right?
1A - Browns (2 first round picks, 3 second round picks, 1 third round pick) *In position to draft a top qb.
1B - Bills (2 first round picks, 2 second round picks, 1 third round pick) *Not in position to draft a top qb
3 - Jaguars (1 first round pick, 1 second round pick, 1 third round pick) *Not in position to draft a top QB
4 - Cardinals (1 first round pick, 1 second round pick, 1 third round pick) *Not in position to draft a top QB
With the Browns, I don't see them giving up the #1 or the #4. This means it would likely be two 2's (best case), or some other combination of three picks involving one of the 2's and a 3 or 4.
I don't see the Cardinals giving up the #15 overall, as they don't have multiple picks. We would be looking at a 2 + 2019 2 (best case), or a 2 + a 3 or 4.
I could see the Jaguars giving up a 1, since their pick is mid-twenties and the QB is the only really gaping hole on their roster. I think that's the best we could ask for from them. It may involve a swap of later round picks or something, too.
The Bills have two 1st rounders, and a gaping need at QB. I think we could get our 1 back (lol), and a 3 (best case). They would still have a 1, and two 2's, and Alex.
I think our best case scenario (being reasonable), is the Bills, followed by the Browns. I don't see the Cards or Jags being willing to top those offers. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Sandy Vagina:
No. There are variables for other teams as well. Teams like the Vikes have both Bradford and Keenum as UFAs. Then there's the question of whether Eli is a NYG or Cousins is a Skin still. NYJ?
I wouldn't break the list down to draft pick ammo, necessarily. Teams can get create with upgrading or downgrading draft picks.
... and Smith could very well shoot the bird at all, and retire. :-)
True, I just don't see the Vikings willing to change everything up with a new QB when they have those guys who have been in the system baking for a year. I bet they keep one rather than pay a shit ton for Smith.
As for the Giants, I think now that the dipshit HC is out, they keep Manning as the stop-gap until they get a QBOTF. The guy has two rings, after all.
If Cousins leaves, and they bring in Smith on his current deal, its basically the same thing again - and they said they don't want another 1-year QB. Alex has one year? two left on his deal? I dunno. Maybe. A lot has to happen there.
The Jets could legitimately be in play. A 1, two 2's and a 3 to work with. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Red Dawg:
Just cut him now. Can we not just move the hell on and not wait? I think it's effing stupid that Mahomes has to sit and wait to be named the starter.
Originally Posted by Dante84:
True, I just don't see the Vikings willing to change everything up with a new QB when they have those guys who have been in the system baking for a year. I bet they keep one rather than pay a shit ton for Smith.
As for the Giants, I think now that the dipshit HC is out, they keep Manning as the stop-gap until they get a QBOTF. The guy has two rings, after all.
If Cousins leaves, and they bring in Smith on his current deal, its basically the same thing again - and they said they don't want another 1-year QB. Alex has one year? two left on his deal? I dunno. Maybe. A lot has to happen there.
The Jets could legitimately be in play. A 1, two 2's and a 3 to work with.
If the Vikes' QBs and F/O don't see eye to eye on what they feel they are worth? or if they themselves want to test the market first? then that won't be a surprise. UFAs
Lots of dunno, we will see, on the others. Teams with normal or less ammo for draft picks could still be in play. They just have to break down "bigger" picks for smaller returns.
I guess it's fun to wonder, but really... could be a long wait, and anything bizarre could happen. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Red Dawg:
We don't know squat. The longer this goes on the more I don't like it. Sutton is still here and you know what? He is staying. That is why he's still here. Alex ain't gone until he's gone. So get him gone for gawds sake. It's like Clark hates us.
Ok, let me put it this way. Shouldn't they at the very least try to get something for him? They can't make a move until March and the new league year. Take a breather it's a long offseason [Reply]
