The quarterback market for the 2021 NFL offseason could be a crazy one as fans have witnessed a blockbuster trade already (Jared Goff for Matthew Stafford) and several shakeups could follow (like Carson Wentz and Deshaun Watson). However, one low-key name who could be apart of the league’s quarterback chaos is Alex Smith, who made a miraculous return to football during the 2020 season.
Before this season, Smith had been away from the NFL since November of 2018 due to a brutal spiral and compound fracture to his tibia and fibula, which required a lot of work to return from. However, he was somehow able to overcome the adversity before him and return to the field as a starter for six games with The Washington Football Team.
During his return, Smith was also able to have some success, aiding Washington to a 5-1 record throughout the process. As a result, he was named the NFL’s Comeback Player of the Year for 2020 to conclude a storybook return.
Unfortunately, as magical as the 2020 season was for Smith, the business side of the football industry could prevent him from returning to the Football Team. While he’s still under contract, for salary cap purposes, Washington may part ways with him this offseason to save $14.7 million against the cap.
However, even if that’s the case, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler revealed that Smith would like to keep playing football in 2021 on SportsCenter recently.
“I’m told that Alex Smith after a great comeback year, going 5-2 down the stretch, he does want to continue playing football,” Fowler said. “He’s leaning that way, but he’s got a large cap hit. Washington could save $13.6 million if they did move on. And many people around the league believe their answer at quarterback is not in the building. So maybe they could work something out with Smith, but he does want to play somewhere.”
Fowler’s report has caused many in the football community to find some potential teams that Smith could join, and believe it or not, the Jacksonville Jaguars have been a popular name in those discussions. The reason for that is due to Smith’s well-documented link to new Jags coach Urban Meyer, who coached him at the University of Utah before he became the No. 1 overall pick in the 2005 NFL Draft.
All of that in mind, if Smith hits the free agency market, most believe Meyer would be all over signing him. However, due to having a direct path to Trevor Lawrence, the pursuit for Smith with definitely be as a backup.
Understanding that Smith is a competitor, most expect him to look for an opportunity to start if released, but the market may not present him with a chance in 2021. If that’s the case, Meyer could want to surround his soon-to-be franchise quarterback with the most knowledgeable veteran he can find —and that certainly defines Smith.
Another noteworthy tidbit is the fact that the Jags have Gardner Minshew II on the roster still. He’s also a strong candidate to be Lawrence’s backup with 20 starts to his name. However, some feel he’s a candidate to be traded, and even if he isn’t, Smith is a player with 167 starts to his name, which includes seven playoff victories, 19 comebacks, and 23 game-winning drives.
Smith’s wealth of knowledge would be beneficial to a team with very young quarterbacks like the Jags. Even if it’s just on a one-year deal, Smith’s addition could give the Jags one of the better quarterback groups in the NFL if Lawrence is the star that most believe.