As the Washington Football Team furthers their rebuild, they no longer want anything to do with Alex Smith according to NFL Network. Alex Smith is coming off a season in which he won the Comeback Player of the Year Award, but it is universally agreed upon that he won more due to the fact that he started a game than his play.
Alex Smith 2020 Season
The 36-year-old threw for 1582 yards, 6 touchdowns, and 8 interceptions in 6 games started. What’s really amazing is that in those 6 games, the WFT went 5-1! However, his individual play was sub-par; the main reason for the success was the defensive line.
Cap Advantages
By releasing Alex Smith, the Washington Football Team saved $14.7 million under the 2021 salary cap, which will give then $53 million in total cap space, the 4th most in the NFL. Smith would’ve been owed $18.8 million without incentives in 2021, so the release of Smith isn’t too big of a hit for Washington’s dead cap money.
WFT QB Situation
As of now, there is much uncertainty regarding the WFT’s quarterback situation in 2021; they recently resigned Taylor Heinicke, who had a phenomenal performance in his lone start, which just happened to be on the biggest stage (playoffs). Although they still lost, Heinicke threw for 306 yards on 60% completion, with a touchdown and interception. It only makes it more impressive that he played through a separated shoulder.
Another option at the helm next year is Kyle Allen. Allen and Head Coach Ron Rivera previously had a relationship while on the Carolina Panthers. Additionally, Allen looked promising before dislocating his ankle against the Giants. He is an Exclusive Rights Free Agent, meaning that he cannot entertain offers from other teams if his original team offers him a 1-year contract at the minimum. This works out nicely for the WFT as they can sign Allen to a 1-year “prove-it” deal for cheap.
If the front-office is feeling really bold, they can go all-in on a disgruntled quarterback, such as Russell Wilson or Deshaun Watson. The former would be nice since Wilson is an elite quarterback still, but Wilson isn’t young anymore, so he isn’t a viable long-term option. On the other hand, the latter would be perfect; he is still only 25 years old and has endless potential. He fits the WFT timeline and championship window much better than Wilson since he can help them win-now and in the future. Sadly, for WFT fans, both of these quarterbacks would be extremely expensive in terms of compensation for them as well as the liquidity necessary to satisfy their contracts. Wilson would 2+ first-round picks and more, while Watson would cost 3+ first-round picks and more; both would likely pay off though, especially Watson.
The last option for the Washington Football Team is to draft a quarterback; they currently hold the 19th pick in this year’s draft. They could trade up into the top 10 to draft either Trevor Lawrence, Zach Wilson, or Justin Fields, or they could stay where they are and hope either Trey Lance or Mac Jones slides to the 19th pick.
Has a Move Been in the Works?
Moving Alex Smith is no secret for the WFT, as Alex Smith noted, “When I decided to come back, I definitely threw a wrench in the team’s plan. They didn’t see it, didn’t want me there, didn’t want me to be a part of it, didn’t want me to be on the team, the roster, didn’t want to give me a chance. Mind you, it was a whole new regime, they came in, I’m like the leftovers and I’m hurt and I’m this liability. Heck no, they didn’t want me there.” It’s probably even safe to say the feelings were mutual since Smith better fits on an experienced team. The drawback for him is that he will likely not find a job as a starter anywhere, so he won’t get paid as much nor get as much playing time. At least he has a chance to win somewhere though, and for whatever team gets him will get his valuable experience and leadership.
Conclusion
Alex Smith was virtually guaranteed the Comeback Player of the Year Award the moment he took the field last season, making it one of the easiest decisions for voters ever in the history of NFL awards. He made the greatest comeback of all time, against all odds… there was a time when leg amputation was in the picture. As for his legacy, Smith will go down as the toughest player in the history of the NFL. The Washington Football Team is in an “in with the new, out with the old” situation, and all signs point to a bright future for them. Whether they like each other or not, Alex Smith and the WFT will forever be linked together as the team and player that did the impossible in the same season…
