The first major move of the 2013 NFL offseason occurred Wednesday as San Francisco and Kansas City agreed to a deal which will make Alex Smith a Chief. Smith, however, was just one of several players thought to be available via a trade, and Wednesday’s deal could set the market for other available quarterbacks.
How the Alex Smith trade affects the quarterback market
With San Francisco reportedly agreeing to a deal that will ship Alex Smith to Kansas City, the first major move of the NFL trade season is in the books. How will the proposed Smith deal impact the rest of the market?
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While the full compensation for Smith remains unknown, the Chiefs are parting with a second-round pick this season and possibly as much as another second-round pick next season, according to some reports. Two premium draft picks is a high price to pay for Smith and could increase the price tag for other signal callers. Philadelphia's Nick Foles and Seattle's Matt Flynn have both been rumored to be available, but the Eagles and Seahawks may up the asking price now.
The Eagles could ask for a larger return in exchange for Foles. ESPN’s Chris Mortensen reported that Foles could be had for a third-round pick, but that was before the Smith deal. While Foles’ track record doesn’t quite match Smith’s, he is cost-controlled for three more seasons under his rookie contract. Smith is scheduled to be a free agent after next season and will cost significantly more than Foles over the next three seasons.
With Smith off the market and a lack of available quarterbacks, the Seahawks may be able to acquire a mid-round or higher pick for Flynn. Flynn is under contract for two more seasons, and while he’s yet to prove himself as a starting quarterback, he may be the best available alternative.
Wednesday’s trade could have a major impact on the 2013 NFL Draft as well. The Chiefs are now out of the market for a quarterback, so Geno Smith is no longer an option in Kansas City. Assuming no team trades up to get Smith, he could go later in the first round, which would cause the quarterbacks ranked below him slide as well. Depending on how far Smith slides, Matt Barkley and others could fall out of the first round completely.
In addition to increasing market values, Wednesday's deal could also speed up the timeline of other deals. The Arizona Cardinals missed out on Smith and are still searching for a quarterback. They could become more aggressive in talks for Foles, Flynn or another player in an effort to not miss out again. With options dwindling, Arizona could also decide to use the No. 7 pick in the draft on a quarterback, possibly Smith if he now drops that far.
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