Washington Redskins: What does the Smith signing mean for the offense?

Leadership

In Alex Smith, the Washington Redskins get a good player. And they get an even better man.

Smith has always been a class act, and the reaction his trade got from the Kansas City Chiefs’ fan base is proof of that.

Chiefs players hold Smith in high regard as a leader, both on and off the field, as evidenced in Kareem Hunt’s parting message to the quarterback. More proof of Smith’s character was on display during all of 2017. When the Chiefs drafted Smith’s obvious replacement, Patrick Mahomes, the veteran didn’t isolate himself and compete. He taught Mahomes what he knew, and groomed the Texas Tech product for success. And when Mahomes played his first NFL game in light of a brief injury to Smith, he went out and won the game.

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Additionally, Smith was nominated as the Chiefs’ Man of the Year representative in 2016 and 2017, and his charity, The Alex Smith Foundation, helps disadvantaged foster teens develop and grow into successful adults. But don’t go tweeting at Smith to thank him. He’s not one for self-promotion. For more on his foundation and his work, check out this great article on Chiefs.com.

Forget the football for a moment. The Washington Redskins are getting a top-notch competitor, and a top-notch person. That’s valuable in its own right.