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."
A high value trade for a QB with one year left on his contract? Better hope it's a destination that he wants to go to otherwise teams will just wait til he's released
If patty goes down the season is over. Solid backups aren't cheap ask foles and Chase Daniel [Reply]
Originally Posted by pugsnotdrugs19:
I'm not sure it matters that everyone knows we're moving on when he should have multiple suitors. It's not like the Browns are going to be able to get him to sign to play there as a FA. Teams know that the only way they guarantee getting the QB is to trade for him.
That’s irrelevant. Nobody is giving up a premium pick unless Alex agrees to an extension. He’s only got 1 year left on his deal. [Reply]
Originally Posted by BossChief:
That’s irrelevant. Nobody is giving up a premium pick unless Alex agrees to an extension. He’s only got 1 year left on his deal.
I'm operating under the assumption that an extension would be part of a trade. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Sweet Daddy Hate:
Dreams and wishes abound!
You could get a second but you won't get much else beyond that. Age and performance issues make Smith a QB that ONLY a team sitting in the scrap heap would make such an investment for. You KNOW he's not taking your team on a deep run post-season, but he CAN produce those world famous, Lil' Chiefy-lovin' "winning seasons"( above .500, brah! )for you.
And I'm sure any team sitting in the shit pile would be happy to wipe their asses with Smith's "talent", and get on up to..."respectability".
Ugh...
So I guess that you would rather be the Browns? Losing seasons for how many years in a row? No, winning seasons aren't the ultimate goal. But it sure beats constantly watching your team lose. I have said this many times. Smith did exactly what we brought him here for. He put this team in the playoffs year after. It took five years for our GM to find the right guy to lead this team to the next level. I would have preferred it happen sooner. But Mahomes may just be the best quarterback to come out the last 5 years. If he is, then every minute with Smith as QB was worth it because it's what got us to that point. If we had drafted another lesser quarterback in the past couple of years, no way would we have grabbed Mahomes. [Reply]
Originally Posted by TigeRRUppeRRcut:
A high value trade for a QB with one year left on his contract? Better hope it's a destination that he wants to go to otherwise teams will just wait til he's released
If patty goes down the season is over. Solid backups aren't cheap ask foles and Chase Daniel
Isn't that pretty much the case for every team? Unless they have an elite defense, then you might have a shot with the backup. [Reply]
Originally Posted by jjchieffan:
So I guess that you would rather be the Browns? Losing seasons for how many years in a row? No, winning seasons aren't the ultimate goal. But it sure beats constantly watching your team lose. I have said this many times. Smith did exactly what we brought him here for. He put this team in the playoffs year after. It took five years for our GM to find the right guy to lead this team to the next level. I would have preferred it happen sooner. But Mahomes may just be the best quarterback to come out the last 5 years. If he is, then every minute with Smith as QB was worth it because it's what got us to that point. If we had drafted another lesser quarterback in the past couple of years, no way would we have grabbed Mahomes.
Originally Posted by pugsnotdrugs19:
Isn't that pretty much the case for every team? Unless they have an elite defense, then you might have a shot with the backup.
Again, I don't want Smith a Chief anymore, but there is a point to the thinking here. Between Smith and Mahomie, you'd likely have two quality starters at the most important position in football... AND the total for both is cheaper than many teams pay their QB1 all by himself.
So, even if people believe Smith has no chance to progress through the playoffs? They have to (in this scenario) feel really good that Smith can keep some regular season wins going (if Mahomie gets hurt or even doesn't start).. and if Smith gets injured or isn't doing enough later in the year... in comes the young closer!
I don't want this. I'm sure anything less than Mahomie starting is a fail to you and some others.... BUT... at least try to see the logic.
I get that other positions need upgrades... upgrades that the money from Smith/ or trade could provide. You'd still be lessening the most important position in football... while gambling on a couple FAs or baby draft picks on day 2 and 3. [Reply]
Originally Posted by pugsnotdrugs19:
Isn't that pretty much the case for every team? Unless they have an elite defense, then you might have a shot with the backup.
Remember when brady was banned six games and jimmy held things together?
Ask the Packers what happens when you don't have a quality backup for even a third of a season. Game. Over.
The risk of injury is high to qbs you've just been blind to it with Smith being durable for 5 seasons [Reply]
Originally Posted by Sandy Vagina:
I get that other positions need upgrades... upgrades that the money from Smith/ or trade could provide. You'd still be lessening the most important position in football... while gambling on a couple FAs or baby draft picks on day 2 and 3.
I wouldn't want to keep him as the backup for a couple of reasons. 1) The roster really does need to use that money to try and upgrade elsewhere, especially given our cap situation. Their hands are tied until they make a few moves come March. 2) I think keeping him around only causes controversy. It could cause a divide amongst not only fans, but even the locker room. The instant that the starter struggles, players and fans are going to wonder why the other guy isn't playing...
Bottom line, while backup QB is very important, the Chiefs desperately need that cap space and they need to upgrade in several areas, whether it be a starter or depth. No better time to put a great team together than when a QB is on his rookie contract. We will have 3 years of that if Smith is traded. [Reply]
