Deal reportedly in place to trade 49ers QB Alex Smith

[Auggie]

2-24-13 / sfgate.com

The 49ers can’t finalize a trade involving quarterback Alex Smith until March 12, but they reportedly feel confident about crossing off that item from their to-do list for the offseason.

According to CBS Sports, the 49ers have told other teams that a deal is “effectively complete.” It is not known to whom the 49ers would trade Smith, or what they would net in return. It also is not known whether the Niners are circulating a-deal-is-all-but-complete talk to stimulate interest in the trade market. Finally, the 49ers or the mystery team could back out of a handshake deal at any time with the start of the league year more than two weeks away.

Two logical trade partners, the Jaguars and Browns, are not involved, according to reports from the Florida Times-Union and Cleveland Plain Dealer.

Kansas City is viewed as another logical landing spot for Smith. Before the Super Bowl, ESPN analyst Trent Dilfer, a former teammate and a close friend of Smith’s, told The Chronicle that new Chiefs head coach Andy Reid “really likes Alex.” According to Dilfer, Reid, then with the Eagles, courted Smith when he was a free agent in 2012.

http://blog.sfgate.com/49ers/2013/02/24/smith-trade-reportedly-set-but-awaiting-start-of-league-year

One thing I'll always remember about Alex Smith: he was drafted ahead of Aaron Rodgers.

[joeybee12]

1. Well, he's good enough to be starting somewhere...

And lots of teams have QBs who aren't good enough to be starting...

[TZ]

2. This time last year

I might have thought the Redskins should try for him. Now they have two potential starting QB's! Still doesn't feel real to me...

[joeybee12]

3. Maybe NE should take him...

Although Alex doesn't want to be a back-up, but Tom's getting older and ain't gonna be there in a few years, and Alex would start then.

[bluedigger]

4. Brady will be starting for another five seasons.

I don't think that would interest Alex.

[joeybee12]

5. Barring any injuries...he'll be 40 in 2017...

Anything could happen...that said, I'm sure Alex wants to be the starter somewhere right away.

[bluedigger]

6. Alex is in his prime - he won't go to the bench if he can help it.

As others have said, there are plenty of teams that could use an immediate upgrade at QB. AZ?

[joeybee12]

7. AZ, KC, Cleveland, Jits, Denver (Payless is old), Buffalo

Philly...lots

[bluedigger]

8. Not Denver.

Manning has a couple years left in the tank still, I guess. I was surprised he made it through this season, but he did. Alex needs a home that can afford him, as well. He would be a darn expensive bench warmer. I think Buffalo has a lot tied up in their QB, too, but maybe...

[joeybee12]

9. They'll be calling for his head at the end of trhe 2013 season...

The AFC West sucked big time this past year, but other teams will be getting better...we're talking a .500 team this year.

[bluedigger]

10. I thought that would happen this year.

I dislike the whole division, so I don't really care who wins, but I am deep in Broncos country (with a strange minority of Raiders fans ).

[KamaAina]

11. You never trade within your division

if you can help it.

[JonLP24]

12. I prefer Barkley

or Geno Smith if still available.

I'd also be interested in taking EJ Manuel in the second round. I think Smith would be good but Arizona needs to start young at some point. I think Kolb is good enough to start if the new rookie isn't the best QB on roster so I'd pass on Smith as that option.

[Auggie]

13. Uh-oh ... "Cardinals reportedly interested in Smith"

In his last full game as a starting quarterback, Alex Smith completed 18 of 19 passes and threw three touchdowns in a Monday night win in Arizona, a performance that earned him NFC-Offensive-Player-of-the-Week honors.

Evidently the Cardinals were sufficiently impressed.

According to the Arizona Republic, the 49ers‘ NFC West rivals are “exploring the possibility” of trading for Smith. Per the report, Arizona is intrigued by his “experience, intelligence and talents” and attributes his pre-2011 struggles to San Francisco’s revolving door of coaches and offensive coordinators.

SNIP

While the 49ers might not have interest in propping up the Cardinals at the NFL’s most important position, there is a precedent for teams trading still-productive quarterbacks to a division rival. In 2010, the Eagles traded Donavan McNabb, then 33, to the Redskins. In 2002, the Patriots dealt Drew Beldsoe, 30, to the Bills.

LINK: http://blog.sfgate.com/49ers/2013/02/26/cardinals-reportedly-interested-in-smith/

[TZ]

14. Still productive?

Donovan McNabb? Did this writer not watch the debacle that was the 2011 Redskins. LOL

[madinmaryland]

17. joey. Brady will be with the Pat's until he is 45 at least. Goodell will see to it

that he never gets hit.

[joeybee12]

19. Too bad Romo always gets hit...

Maybe it's him or his shitty o-line!

[madinmaryland]

20. Well, you have to understand...

Goodell has legalized offensive holding for the Pat's and will have a flag thrown if anyone makes the air move when within 36" of Brady!!

[joeybee12]

21. I see you've bought the haters kool-aid

Explains a lot.

[madinmaryland]

22. Hell. Joe Namath would still be playing if they had instituted the "Brady Rule" for him!!

[joeybee12]

23. He'd still be playing if he didn't go to Catholic schools...

I'd heard the nuns would whip his knees when he acted up, weakening them, and that's why they gave out and his career ended too soon.

[joeybee12]

15. KC

The San Francisco 49ers have agreed to trade quarterback Alex Smith to the Kansas City Chiefs, league sources confirmed to ESPN.

Kansas City will trade its second-round pick in the 2013 draft -- the second selection (No. 34 overall) in the round -- as well as another conditional mid-round pick in 2014 to acquire Smith from San Francisco, a league source told ESPN.

The 49ers now own 11 picks in the 2013 draft.

As a result of the trade, the Chiefs are expected to release former starting quarterback Matt Cassel, league sources told ESPN. Cassel has two years remaining on a $63 million, six-year deal he signed with Kansas City after he was acquired in a trade from the Patriots in 2009. He failed to live up to the lofty contract, however, and was benched during the 2012 season.

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/8995035/san-francisco-49ers-agree-trade-alex-smith-kansas-city-chiefs-source

[El Supremo]

16. Is Brady Quinn now backup - again?

The KC Star has been talking about this for days. I think they are glad.

[joeybee12]

18. He must be...

At least he has a job!

[Upton]

24. Looks like a second round pick from KC too..

have to feel good about that. Previously the speculation had been a 3rd or 4th rounder. 49ers now have 12 picks, including 2 in the first 34 selections, 5 in the first 3 rounds, and a couple more compensatory picks expected. They have a lot of options.

[Auggie]

25. DE, WR, CB ... maybe a new kicker

I think Baalke/Harbaugh will sign a FA back-up QB

[Upton]

26. DL for sure..the drop off was noticeable after the Justin Smith injury.

The loss of one player shouldn't affect the defense to that extent. 49ers defense became tired too. They need more rotation on the defensive line, many of them played up to 90% or so of the snaps. Loss of the pass rush became their Achilles heel late last season. With all these picks they should be able to fill the bulk of their needs.

I see they're interested in Revis too. I hope nothing comes of it.. You know he's going to cost. He's coming off the ACL tear and has only one year left on his contract.

[Auggie]

27. Revis is rumor bullshit, I believe

If they must trade picks I hope it's to move up and find an anchor at DE. Those are the kind of acquisitions that truly build dynasties.