Where does Alex Smith stand on that list? I’d argue he stands as the number one QB on that trade market in terms of talent. Sure if I can pick from any I would want Garoppolo for my team but the 49ers took a chance on an unproven backup QB. The key to keep in mind is these things have to be judged at the time of the trade and not retrospectively. Few thought come draft time, Carson Wentz and Jared Goff were better QB prospects than Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota.
If teams knew how good they would be the Browns surely wouldn’t have traded back and others would have flocked at the chance to trade up. After this year it seems like like the first two are going to be better than the latter but perspective is important. Grading something three years down the line after an event happens is going to be different than grading it now.
If Garoppolo goes on to be a franchise QB and the Patriots have no heir to Brady and the pick becomes a bust the Patriots grade may change from a B/C now for getting something instead of him walking now to a F for letting him go or not getting more in value for him. With that rant over it is hard to compare apples to oranges. Garoppolo and McCarron were unproven backups with franchise potential while Smith and Bradford are proven veterans. Because Alex Smith has been around so long we know what he is. He is a small mistake game manager that knows how to win games.
Winning games is important to this current Cleveland Browns franchise because the frustrations of losing year after year is setting in to the fan base. Getting wins soon is something that can hopefully make Cleveland a potential destination for free agents instead of the laughing stock of the NFL.
But I’ve established that Alex Smith at the time of the trade would be the best QB at that moment throwing out potential. Excluding Brissett, the lowest of that group went for a second round pick. If I was the Chiefs I would set a price tag higher than that.
When the Chiefs originally acquired Smith back in 2013 the price tag for him turned out to be two second round picks. The premium for trades on QBs has continued to grow. Look at the costs teams have paid in the last two drafts alone to get a QB. The Houston Texans for Deshaun Watson gave up two first round picks. The Chiefs gave up two first round picks and a third to get Pat Mahomes.
The Bears gave up a first, two thirds and a fourth round pick to move up one spot for Mitchell Trubisky. The Eagles gave up two firsts, a second and third round pick for Carson Wentz. For the Rams to get Jared Goff they gave up two firsts, two seconds, and two third round picks.
Once again I can’t compare apples to oranges with those guys being groomed to be a franchise QB and Alex Smith being a 34 year old veteran but if given to the right team and situation and Smith signs an extension I can’t see the Chiefs only getting a second round pick.
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