Chiefs Market for Alex Smith will be strong, Ian Rapoport says - Page 18

JakeF · 01-08-2018, 04:53 PM

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."

Author
Kirk Larrabee @nfl_chiefs247

ARROW2 · 01-09-2018, 08:03 AM

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Originally Posted by Karlos

I'm one of Smith's largest backers, especially compared to most of the posters here, and I feel he gives us our best shot at a Super Bowl next season. With that said, his value will never be higher than it is right now and we'd be stupid not to cash in on that given that Mahomes looks like he's ready. Even if that means we take a step back next season, we'll be better off in the long run.

Football card REVOKED!!!!!

Mile High Mania · 01-09-2018, 08:34 AM

Will be curious to see what he brings in a trade... 34 years old, $20M ... would have to think it's a trade and restructure kind of deal to give them security for 2 years if they're giving up anything higher than a R3.

I still think the Browns with all those picks and cap room are your huckleberry.

Mile High Mania · 01-09-2018, 08:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gravedigger

Alex is brought on at this point to provide stability to a franchise for the end of his career. They know he'll play well enough to keep the fan base attending vs. what other teams have at this point. Cleveland, Miami, Buffalo, if you've been bad for awhile then Alex is your kinda guy that your franchise needs so the money keeps coming in. If you think Alex is going to win you the Superbowl, well then you haven't been paying attention.

Reid would agree... the 2nd best sting of years in his career are tied to Smith.

KINGPIN CHIEFS FAN · 01-09-2018, 08:47 AM

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Originally Posted by threebag02

I don't really give a shit who the Chiefs trot out. I just know Alex deserves more credit than the bullshit he gets. **** clay and his group of pillowbitergots. I hope Alex mows his ass over in the Taco Bell drive thru when clay redeems free taco coupons.

All Clay would have to do is stand there waving his arms like a wide open receiver and Alex would never see him or just refuse to step on the accelerator.

**fan4ever** · 01-09-2018, 10:11 AM

One of our local stations here in Phoenix was reporting last night on how interested the Cardinals are in Smith, how he'd be perfect for the QB situation right now, and how the Cardinals realize they'd have to give up their mid first round pick for him but even so, they're still very interested. At least that's the scuttlebutt for now.

O.city · 01-09-2018, 10:13 AM

If you could get the first rounder from the cardinals, man.

Veach would be a badass for that

**The Franchise** · 01-09-2018, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fan4ever

One of our local stations here in Phoenix was reporting last night on how interested the Cardinals are in Smith, how he'd be perfect for the QB situation right now, and how the Cardinals realize they'd have to give up their mid first round pick for him but even so, they're still very interested. At least that's the scuttlebutt for now.

Why? So he can play the 49ers twice a year?

Mile High Mania · 01-09-2018, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pestilence

Why? So he can play the 49ers twice a year?

His best bet... go to the Jaguars. Not sure what Luck is going to be like when he comes back, same with Watson - but, if he's ok, HOU is set. That being said, the Jags are kinda built as a "QB Away" from being a nice threat the next 2-3 years.

Cardinals have to deal with the Rams and whatever the SEA look like next year... and the 49ers are on the rise.

Wonder if the Jags make a play.

**The Franchise** · 01-09-2018, 10:34 AM

It looks to me like there's 4 teams that could use his services.

1. Browns
2. Jaguars
3. Bills
4. Cardinals

Those are some good teams to start a bidding war. The Browns have a high enough 2nd pick that the other 3 would have to throw their 1st round pick to beat their offer.

Or I could be over valuing Alex Smith and they just offer a 3rd. I'm fine with that as well.

Quesadilla Joe · 01-09-2018, 10:35 AM

I don't see why any team would be dying to give up anything significant for Alex Smith.

Jacksonville would make sense but Cousins would be a much better option.

Buffalo has two #1's and Tyrod Taylor. They'd be better off letting Tyrod be their bridge QB and using their draft capital to secure one of the four great, young QB's in the draft.

Arizona would make sense, but they'd also be better off using their draft picks to trade up for a young QB.

That leaves the Browns, who can pick whoever they want and have extra picks to burn on Smith. But does John Dorsey really want to deal with KC? And why wouldn't they just sign Josh McCown to be the placeholder in case their QBOTF isn't ready?

**Rausch** · 01-09-2018, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pestilence

Why? So he can play the 49ers twice a year?

Once their HB comes back they have a complete offense. A nice group of WR's (even with Fitz gone and one of them constantly being out with a blood disorder.) All Smith has to do is move the chains and not turn it over to protect a defense (much like KC's) that gives up yards but gets turnovers.

I think it's a good fit.

I would think that Nagy+Smith would have been good to Cleveland. Dorsey knows what he's getting and they'd likely hit 8 wins in year 1...

O.city · 01-09-2018, 10:39 AM

Quote: