The NFL offseason didn’t even start yet, and we have ourselves a first blockbuster trade. Kansas City Chiefs just traded their starting quarterback Alex Smith to the Washington Redskins in exchange for a third-round pick and cornerback Kendall Fuller.
According to the reports, Smith, who has one year left on his deal, will sign a contract extension with the Redskins in the coming days. The contract will be for four-year and worth around $23.5 million per year. $71 million of that money will be guaranteed.
This trade works well for both teams. Chiefs already have Smith’s successor in Patrick Mahomes II, whom they drafted in 2017 NFL draft with the 10th overall pick. Although it is a small sample size, with his performance in the Week 17 against the Denver Broncos, Mahomes looked like he is the right man to fill the QB spot. He completed 22 of his 35 passes, throwing for 284 yards in a 27-24 win. They will also get a reliable cornerback in Fuller, who will almost certainly be a starter in the next season not to mention the $17 million in cap relief.
When it comes to Redskins, they decided to be the ones to make the first move, and secure their QB position. Current Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins is set to become an unrestricted free agent in the offseason once again after playing two years with a franchise tag. Redskins and Cousins failed to work out a long-term deal once again, and franchise-tagging the 29-year old veteran for the third time would be costly for the team since he would be owed $34.5 million. With Smith, they get a quarterback with playoff experience and similar production, but for less money.
Cousins, on the other hand, will now be one of the most desirable free agents in the offseason, with Denver Broncos being a strong suitor.
