Washington Redskins: Chiefs expert provides his take on the trade

Discussion has been plentiful since the Washington Redskins’ trade for Alex Smith. Recently, we met up with a Chiefs’ expert to get more information on the trade, from their perspective.

Opinions have been running rampant on the Washington Redskins’ trade with Alex Smith, both in the Redskins’ fan base and in Chiefs Kingdom. And with good reason.

The trade caught many by surprise, materializing in the evening hours of January 30. Even more surprising was the inclusion of slot cornerback Kendall Fuller in the trade package to Kansas City. The move was met by immediate scrutiny from fans in D.C. But there are two sides to every trade. What reaction did Chiefs’ fans have to the deal?

Quite the opposite reaction, as you might expect.

Shortly after the trade, we were able to meet with Chris Taylor of KC Kingdom, the FanSided site for Kansas City based sports, and we had an opportunity to ask him a few questions about the trade, and its reception in the Chiefs’ community. Here’s what he had to say:

On how big the addition of Kendall Fuller is for the Chiefs:

“The addition of Fuller is huge for the Chiefs. The trio of Eric Berry, Marcus Peters, and Fuller will be dangerous. Coverage issues were a major concern in 2017, so with a healthy Berry and now Fuller added, expectations will be high. The pulse of Chiefs Kingdom is that Kansas City got better overnight.”

The Kansas City Chiefs had a pressing need at cornerback, opposite from ball hawk Marcus Peters. With the slot cornerback position already locked up by Steven Nelson, however, the Chiefs will likely attempt to move Kendall Fuller to the outside. He has played there before. In his college days, he was primarily on the outside. But it remains to be seen whether he’ll need time to adjust in his new role. One thing is certain: He has the talent to succeed anywhere in the secondary.

On whether or not Patrick Mahomes is ready to supplant Alex Smith:

“If you ask Mahomes, he’s ready. He sure has a confidence about him. He really looked comfortable out on the field when we got to see him in Week 17 and during the preseason. The potential that Mahomes and Tyreek Hill could reach is absolutely fascinating to think about, and Hill isn’t the only offensive weapon at Mahomes’ disposal. I personally would be surprised if the Chiefs skipped a beat in 2018.”

When the Kansas City Chiefs traded up to the No. 10 pick to grab Patrick Mahomes in the 2017 NFL Draft, it was clear that Alex Smith’s time with the Chiefs was fleeting. Smith had his best year as a result of the added pressure, but the Chiefs ultimately went with the logical choice in Patrick Mahomes as their quarterback moving forward. Smith will provide stability to the Redskins. And Mahomes is expected to do that, and more, in Kansas City.

On what the Washington Redskins are getting in Alex Smith:

“Alex Smith is a winner. The really great thing about Smith is that he just doesn’t lose games. Now, he might not win them all, but he doesn’t lose games on his own. Fans should appreciate that about him. We saw a different Alex this last season. I would say this past year was a job interview for him, and he apparently nailed it in the eyes of the Washington Redskins. There’s a good chance that Washington will be better in 2018.”

Chiefs Kingdom has a certain respect for Alex Smith, one that should not go unnoticed. Smith didn’t have overwhelming success with the Chiefs. He won regular season games often, but playoff success was scarce, as he went 1-4 in those games. That said, Smith will serve a purpose for a Washington Redskins that will look to maintain prominence in the wake of change. Smith is a steady constant, and if he can continue to be the gunslinger he was in early 2017, with some help and motivation from Jay Gruden, then the offense will do well under his watch.

The conversation doesn’t stop there! I met with Taylor, Travis Steffen, and Britt Zank on their podcast, BlitzPackageKC, to talk in further detail about the trade and the repercussions it might have. You can find the link to the podcast at Arrowhead Addict, FanSided’s Chiefs’ website.

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Let’s give a big thanks to Chris Taylor for giving us a look at the Chiefs’ side of the trade! From the Chiefs’ perspective, it’s clear that, in Alex Smith, the Washington Redskins are getting a respected player who knows how to succeed at the most important position in the sport. Does he have a few more quality years left? Time will be the bearer of that answer, as it always is.