Redskins: Why Alex Smith could be a short term replacement at quarterback if Kirk Cousins walks
The case for Alex Smith
There’s no denying that Smith has been one of the better passers in the AFC this past season. And for the past five years really. During his tenure in Kansas City, Smith has posted an excellent 50-26 record during the regular season and has qualified for the postseason four times, twice winning the division title. He has terrific accuracy and that is really his calling card.
Since Smith’s first season with Jim Harbaugh in San Francisco, the quarterback’s ability to throw accurate passes has been among the best in the league. Over the past seven years, he has completed 65 percent of his passes and his ball placement on short to medium length throws has been incredibly precise. Additionally, he generally avoids costly interceptions and since joining Kansas City, he has maintained a TD-to-INT ratio just above 3-to-1. That is typically a fantastic number among NFL passers.
The list of accolades regarding Smith’s numbers go on. He’s made two Pro Bowls. He’s coming off a season that tied his career high in yards per attempt at an even 8.0. But more importantly, Smith is a great leader on the field and in the community. He knows how to run an offense and is a good decision maker both throwing the ball and running the ball. He rarely makes a massive mistake, and that’s something that Redskins fans know can hurt.
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It’s also worth noting that the torrid pace that Smith started the 2017 campaign on made him an early favorite for MVP. He came out and helped the Chiefs defeat the heavily favored New England Patriots who were, at the time, considered a team that could potentially go 16-0. The Chiefs quickly quashed that conversation topic before beating the Philadelphia Eagles, who finished 13-3. Throughout all this, Smith played well and really looked like an upper level NFL quarterback.
For the Redskins, Smith could come in and be a stopgap starter. In the event that Cousins does decide to walk and the Redskins are looking to replace him, Smith could end up being a solid option. It’s clear that he knows how to lead a team. He can transition seamlessly between offenses as evidenced by his trade from San Francisco to Kansas City. And, most importantly, it’s probably that he would be better than the top options available on the free agent market.
While the free agent market is set to have a number of veteran quarterbacks on it this year, the likelihood of finding a starter of more than a year or two is unlikely. The most intriguing options, save for Cousins, are the trio of Minnesota Vikings, Case Keenum, Teddy Bridgewater, and Sam Bradford, who may hit the market. None are proven commodities like Smith, so trying to use one to replace Cousins may not go as well as some would hope.
For that reason and the fact that Smith has talent, it would probably behoove the Redskins to give the Chiefs a call and inquire about Smith. If they lose Cousins, he could be used as a potential starter for the next few years. Smith is only 33, and he will continue to be an effective starter for at least a few more seasons given the way he plays the game. If the team is asking for a third or fourth rounder for him, then making the move could make some sense.