Market for Alex Smith will be strong, Ian Rapoport says

[JakeF]

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

[temper11]

Originally Posted by Sandy Vagina

I also find the Browns as an intriguing destination for Alex. There is talent there. Never really dislike or hated them. They were just so inconsequential to anything.

I feel like it might just be a fun

This

Originally Posted by Sandy Vagina

.. and let's face it. In this corrupt money machine NFL... all you can do if you like football? is take it in as frivolous entertainment to mildly add to a week.

and most certainly... THIS! Need to remind myself of this daily.

[MahiMike]

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.

Double Jeopardy Alex!

[jjchieffan]

Originally Posted by RealSNR

No, they wouldn't.

They're not challenging for the Super Bowl with him. They couldn't do it in 2015 and 2016 when the team was a lot better. They're not going to do it next year when the defense has a less talented array of starters, not to mention a defensive coordinator who has seemingly gotten dumber as the years have gone on.

Mahomes doesn't need another year on the bench. So START HIM.

This isn't at all about whether or not Smith can maintain his level of "just good enough to choke in the playoffs." This is all about what's best for Mahomes.

Smith is a hindrance to the team if he stays another year as the starter. Plain and simple. He'd still be a hindrance even if he cost half as much and didn't fetch us any draft picks.

Smith is standing in the way of greatness. So he must be removed by whatever means necessary.

End of story.

I didn't word that correctly. I stick by my statement than they would be better off keeping him than to take anything less than a 3rd round pick for him. But I should have went on to say that it should be an open competition for starter between him and Mahomes. Frankly, in a fair competition, Mahomes should win hands down. And i would rather have Smith backing up Mahomes than to release him outright or take a low pick for him.

[RealSNR]

Originally Posted by jjchieffan

I didn't word that correctly. I stick by my statement than they would be better off keeping him than to take anything less than a 3rd round pick for him. But I should have went on to say that it should be an open competition for starter between him and Mahomes. Frankly, in a fair competition, Mahomes should win hands down. And i would rather have Smith backing up Mahomes than to release him outright or take a low pick for him.

Sure, that's fair.

I'm also going to maintain that Alex as a backup is a hindrance.

His presence on the team is a hindrance. He can't be a starter because Mahomes is just as good at the moment, but he also can't be a backup because (whether he deserves it or not) he's honestly a goddamn distraction

He needs to go.

[Bewbies]

If you keep Alex next year, let his contract expire and he signs elsewhere you'll get a 3rd round pick in the 2020 draft.

Why would people think he's not worth AT LEAST a 3 if you know you get one by keeping him around one more year?

[SAUTO]

Originally Posted by Titty Meat

Because you're gay

Uh... No way. You wish though

[SAUTO]

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath58

And by the way, we need to get together for a beverage or 8.

Next time I head that way for the weekend ill holler. But no one out drinks me. My wife will take the challenge though

[Red Dawg]

Alex has to go. It's the only decision to make and I trying very hard to believe he will go and try will do what they should have done 20 damn years ago. Grow the QB they drafted. They have to or burn Arrowhead to the ground.

[Sandy Vagina]

Originally Posted by Red Dawg

Alex has to go. It's the only decision to make and I trying very hard to believe he will go and try will do what they should have done 20 damn years ago. Grow the QB they drafted. They have to or burn Arrowhead to the ground.

Adore the squirming from you and others, but relax kid... he gone.

[Easy 6]

Originally Posted by temper11

I agree with this 100%. Smith is done as a QB for KC. Move him to the highest bidder. There are plenty of teams out there that would appreciate 4 out of 5 seasons in the playoff tournament. I get it, here in KC, that simply isn't something valued - at least not from another retread QB, and that's fine. He needs to move on somewhere else.

I had hopes that Smith had a chance of hoisting the super bowl trophy in KC and I could take pleasure in rubbing it in the faces of all my niner friends that blamed him for all of SF's woes. But I doubt he'd be able to pull that off on any new team looking for a QB now, with the few years he has left.

As a Smith-ball washer, I was at first repulsed by the idea of the Browns. But they appear to be so polar opposite of KC fan in that they are sickened by the idea of drafting the next "great hype". They seem to want veteran stability, solid (even if not spectacular) play based on high level read of some boards. I even saw a few people looking longingly at Fitzpatrick. Send Smith there, get an absolute bounty for him so KC can at least be at peace, if for nothing else than what was given/received. And Smith can potentially be a hero to a team just looking for a winning season, groom their next QBOTF, and retire without all the hatred.

And I can just go back to simply watching the niners. I dreamed a dream...

This is just an incredibly rational, and clear eyed take... kudos to you

KC is ready to move on, but that does not mean Smith is done... his two best bets in order are

1) Jacksonville - we've seen all the good arguments already so I wont go there again, but it makes sooo much sense

2) Yes, Cleveland - If Dorsey has an all around A offseason, plus the guys already in place, then add in a winning, veteran QB who can be very respectable like Smith?

They could conceivably hit 9-7 or so, and if I am a Browns fans its time to get giddy... a few idiots on their message boards might want Taylor, or even Kaep lol, let them eat cake

But mark my words, if Dorsey really puts this offseason together, and Hue Jackson somehow stops being reeruned ... the Browns could actually win again under Smith, and in some sense, thats good for all of us

[mschiefs1984]

I don't think they will getting much for Alex if anything

It's pretty well known that Alex would have had to make a deep postseason run to have any chance of staying in KC. He didn't any trade value pretty much died on Saturday night. 4th rounder is about the best we will get for him IMO

[OKchiefs]

Originally Posted by mschiefs1984

I don't think they will getting much for Alex if anything

It's pretty well known that Alex would have had to make a deep postseason run to have any chance of staying in KC. He didn't any trade value pretty much died on Saturday night. 4th rounder is about the best we will get for him IMO

Funny how just about everyone in the media disagrees with you. Perhaps you don't know much?

[mschiefs1984]

Originally Posted by OKchiefs

Funny how just about everyone in the media disagrees with you. Perhaps you don't know much?

Perhaps

But I think most teams will be willing to wait for him to be cut then offer anything more than that. Would love to be wrong here

[Reerun_KC]

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath58

Nope.



I watched all ZERO points the offense scored in the second half.

There’s a reason you’re a legend.

[Reerun_KC]

Originally Posted by SAUTO

Next time I head that way for the weekend ill holler. But no one out drinks me. My wife will take the challenge though

I want in on this action.