Washington Redskins: Why Alex Smith is not a Donovan McNabb sequel

The news of the Washington Redskins trading for Alex Smith came quick. Almost as quickly came the parallels to another quarterback traded to D.C. by Andy Reid: Donovan McNabb.

For now, let’s ignore the fact that the Washington Redskins gave up Kendall Fuller. This article is about Alex Smith, and only Alex Smith, the new starting quarterback of the Washington Redskins.

As many of us remember, but choose to forget, Donovan McNabb was traded to the Washington Redskins for a second and third round pick in the offseason of 2010. The coach of McNabb’s former team, the Philadelphia Eagles, was Andy Reid.

After throwing for 22 touchdowns and just 10 interceptions in the previous season, it was believed that McNabb would continue to trend upward in Washington. That did not happen. McNabb would go on to see his numbers plummet. By the end of the season, he was the team’s third string quarterback, and the Redskins would stumble to a 6-10 finish.

McNabb was traded promptly in the ensuing offseason, resolving a bitter sequence of a events for the Redskins and Andy Reid. Now, almost eight years later, the Washington Redskins have again nabbed one of Andy Reid’s prized passers.

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But this time, it’s different.

There are some similarities between the two situations. Alex Smith‘s four-year deal, set to be worth around $22 million a year, per Ian Rapoport, will put him somewhere in the middle of the pack, in terms of salary, and McNabb’s did the same. Smith is 33 years old, and McNabb was 34. And yes, Smith came from a team coached by Andy Reid. As did McNabb.

But in 2018, Jay Gruden is the Washington Redskins’ head coach. And Alex Smith fits Gruden’s offense to perfection. Smith is a bigger running threat than Cousins, and some would say he’s more accurate. He can make all the throws, and this past season, he showed more willingness to sling it deep. He’s smart, he’s a leader, and he knows what the right decisions are.

Off script plays are a specialty of Smith’s. On the run, he’s a dangerous threat with the ball. He should be able to effectively use Chris Thompson, just as Cousins, and as far as deep passing goes, Alex Smith is underrated in that regard. He’s a complete passer with at least four solid years left. Some will wonder if he lasts through all four years, but if he keeps working to stay in football shape, then there shouldn’t be a drop off in play.

Smith may be older, but he’s coming off the best year of his career. Smith was a coveted quarterback around the league. The Redskins weren’t the only team interested in him. But in the end, they won the sweepstakes. Smith is a better quarterback than McNabb. Plain and simple. He fits Gruden’s west coast style like a glove, maybe even better than Reid’s offense, and he should be able to come in right away and get the terminology under wraps.

Next: Known details of Redskins - Alex Smith deal listed here

Smith should at least keep the Washington Redskins respectable, but to ensure that he sustains a similar level of success in Washington that he did in Kansas City, a running game has to be established. Throughout the offseason, the Washington Redskins will be working to best set up Smith for success. In Jay Gruden’s scheme, however, Smith has a good head start.

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