The Washington Redskins gave up on quarterback Kirk Cousins -- and did so at a steep price. Trading for Kansas City's Alex Smith makes sense, knowing Cousins wasn't likely to sign a long-term deal with Washington. And if he did, it would be costly.
But trading for Smith comes at a cost as well. A steep one. Giving the Chiefs a third-round pick isn't bad; Washington will get a pick in the same round in 2019 as compensation when Cousins signs with someone in free agency. However, also included in the deal for Smith, according to sources, is cornerback Kendall Fuller, who is entering his third season and coming off an excellent year.
Fuller is what Washington needs: a good, young and inexpensive starting-caliber defensive player. The Redskins didn't want to sign Cousins, feeling it would prevent them from keeping important pieces or finding other parts. That's fine. But then they include a promising young player as part of this trade? That's hard to digest. Fuller plays a premium position where depth is always needed, especially with Bashaud Breeland likely bound for free agency.
And it's hard to feel great about paying a quarterback who turns 34 in May an average of $23.5 million per year. Smith will receive $71 million guaranteed. However, the details of his contract haven't come out yet, and those will be crucial. What are his cap hits in the first few years? When can the Redskins get out of the deal? If Smith plays well, the money will be fine.
It's yet another bold move at quarterback by Washington. In 2010, the Redskins traded for an aging Donovan McNabb. That failed, badly. They traded up in the 2012 draft to select Robert Griffin III. That worked out well for a year, then it failed. Badly. They had a quarterback on their roster who was playing well, yet couldn't sign him. In fact, Cousins was the only quarterback the franchise has drafted and developed since Mark Rypien in the late 1980s. And now Cousins will spend the rest of his career elsewhere.
So the Redskins are swinging big again. At one point during the 2017 season, Smith was included in league MVP discussions -- until the Chiefs faded. Then they lost in the first round of the playoffs again. But Smith, for those who like quarterback won-loss records, has posted a winning record in seven straight seasons. During that time, his winning percentage of .688 trails only Peyton Manning, Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers.
Continue Reading: Redskins' trade for Alex Smith comes at significant cost
But trading for Smith comes at a cost as well. A steep one. Giving the Chiefs a third-round pick isn't bad; Washington will get a pick in the same round in 2019 as compensation when Cousins signs with someone in free agency. However, also included in the deal for Smith, according to sources, is cornerback Kendall Fuller, who is entering his third season and coming off an excellent year.
Fuller is what Washington needs: a good, young and inexpensive starting-caliber defensive player. The Redskins didn't want to sign Cousins, feeling it would prevent them from keeping important pieces or finding other parts. That's fine. But then they include a promising young player as part of this trade? That's hard to digest. Fuller plays a premium position where depth is always needed, especially with Bashaud Breeland likely bound for free agency.
And it's hard to feel great about paying a quarterback who turns 34 in May an average of $23.5 million per year. Smith will receive $71 million guaranteed. However, the details of his contract haven't come out yet, and those will be crucial. What are his cap hits in the first few years? When can the Redskins get out of the deal? If Smith plays well, the money will be fine.
It's yet another bold move at quarterback by Washington. In 2010, the Redskins traded for an aging Donovan McNabb. That failed, badly. They traded up in the 2012 draft to select Robert Griffin III. That worked out well for a year, then it failed. Badly. They had a quarterback on their roster who was playing well, yet couldn't sign him. In fact, Cousins was the only quarterback the franchise has drafted and developed since Mark Rypien in the late 1980s. And now Cousins will spend the rest of his career elsewhere.
So the Redskins are swinging big again. At one point during the 2017 season, Smith was included in league MVP discussions -- until the Chiefs faded. Then they lost in the first round of the playoffs again. But Smith, for those who like quarterback won-loss records, has posted a winning record in seven straight seasons. During that time, his winning percentage of .688 trails only Peyton Manning, Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers.
Continue Reading: Redskins' trade for Alex Smith comes at significant cost
Comments
Post a Comment