Report: Washington expected to release former Chiefs QB Alex Smith
Former Kansas City Chiefs QB Alex Smith is set to become a free agent for the first time in his career.
According to a report from NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Washington Football Team is expected to part ways with Smith in the coming days. The 14-year NFL veteran began his career with the San Francisco 49ers and has since been dealt in trade twice. First from San Francisco to Kansas City in 2013 and then from Kansas City to Washington back in 2018. He was signed to a big four-year contract extension to become the starting quarterback for Washington, but that wouldn’t last. Smith would suffer a devastating leg injury, one that nearly cost him his life.
Smith spent over a year rehabbing and made an improbable return this season, starting his first game in November, nearly two years removed from the injury. Smith’s play and performance in 2020 helped lead Washington to their first playoff berth since 2015. He earned recognition as the league’s annual Comeback Player of the Year for the 2020 NFL season, proving he could return and play at a high level.
Releasing Smith saves Washington nearly $14 million against the salary cap and it allows them to start hunting for their quarterback of the future. As for Smith, he now has a decision to make about his future. Does he want to extend his playing career or is he ready to retire from the game?
If Smith intends to continue playing, there will be a market for his services. That market will likely be prohibitive to any sort of reunion with his former coaches and teammates in Kansas City, given the salary cap situation they face. He could still land with a familiar face, though.
Former Chiefs OC Matt Nagy, who coached Smith to his best professional season in 2017, is still the head coach of the Chicago Bears. They’ve yet to make any decisions on Mitch Trubisky and the only quarterback they currently have on the roster is Nick Foles, who backed Smith up on the Chiefs in the 2016 season. The Bears would make a lot of sense as a landing spot for Smith as a potential bridge option in Chicago as they continue to search for their quarterback of the future.
