There is an agreement in principle for Alex Smith to go to the #Redskins. The deal will be finalized tomorrow. This means Kirk Cousins will be a free agent. Mega-deal.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 31, 2018
Alex Smith is now the QB of the Washington Redskins. In return, the Redskins will send back a 2018 third-round pick and player to be named later. This deal technically can’t be official until the beginning of the league year in March. Smith had one year left on his four-year deal he signed back in 2015. Washington has now given Smith a new four-year extension that will pay him roughly $23.5 million annually and will include close to $70 million in guarantees.
This move makes all the sense in the world for the Chiefs. Smith was getting older (even though he had a great year), and they drafted QB Pat Mahomes in the first-round of last year’s draft. The team apparently liked what they saw and decided they would be willing to risk putting him out there. They might as well get something for Alex Smith if they see the end nearing.
Smith played at an MVP level for much of the year. He totaled 4,042 (eighth in the league) yards and 26 touchdowns (ninth in the league). Both of those numbers, as well as his 104.7 passer rating were career-highs for the 33-year old.
I predicted that Alex Smith could be on the move earlier this week, but I believe Jacksonville would be the landing spot. It’s interesting that he lands in Washington, because they’ve been playing the waiting game with QB Kirk Cousins.
The Redskins have tagged Cousins both of the last two seasons, making him the only QB to ever be franchise-tagged in back-to-back seasons. For some reason, the sides have been far apart on a long-term deal, and if they were to franchise him again, the number would be astronomical for one year. Not to mention it would’ve been fully guaranteed.
To me, Cousins is a good, not great, quarterback. The Redskins have not seemed to get much better with him under center. Smith will likely come in and get them to play at roughly the same level for likely less money than Cousins would get in free agency. I guess it really all depends on what they’re sending back to Kansas City.
Cousins now has a ton of options and will likely be the most-coveted QB on the market (assuming Jimmy Garoppolo is franchised in San Francisco). The Denver Broncos have an opening as neither Paxton Lynch or Trevor Siemian have stepped up. Other potential landing spots include Cleveland, New York (Jets), Jacksonville, Arizona, and even Buffalo (I’m not a believe in Tyrod). To me, Jacksonville would be the most attractive destination of those available.
The off-season hasn’t even begun, and I’m already so excited from the first big move. Does this trade make the Redskins better or worse?