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10) Alex Smith, Kansas City Chiefs
Competition was fierce at the 10-spot, coming down to Cam Newton, Matt Ryan, Eli Manning, Joe Flacco and Matthew Stafford. If we were talking overall careers, Manning would be the choice. Flacco presents an interesting argument, because he tends to light it up in nationally televised games. At the same time, there's no question he's been inconsistent since winning Super Bowl XLVII. Stafford's inaccuracy in key spots has driven Lions fans crazy. Newton's calling card has never included on-the-mark throws, but his overall game can be a nightmare for defenses. Ryan, meanwhile, has been the most consistent, and was ultimately the toughest to leave off.
So why Smith?
a) Free-agent signee Jeremy Maclin will provide Smith with arguably the best wideout he's ever had.
b) Trading for Ben Grubbs and drafting Mitch Morse in the second round should bolster the offensive line.
c) Running back Jamaal Charles and tight end Travis Kelce are still on the upswing in their respective careers, with Kelce having room to get scary good.
d) Smith has been underrated for far too long.
He's derisively labeled a game manager, but people seem to have forgotten what that word means. This just in: John Elway was more or less a game manager during the Broncos' Super Bowl runs of 1997 and '98. The same could be said of Phil Simms with the 1986 Giants. Sure, they were capable of making big plays downfield, but they no longer made the plays that turned wins into losses, instead leaning on the run game. Now, add in the fact that Smith is an incredibly effective runner when he chooses to take off (and he's much faster than most realize), and you have a solid quarterback. I just wish he would stretch those legs a bit more.
Follow Elliot Harrison on Twitter @HarrisonNFL.
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