It takes a big story to take the focus away from the Super Bowl this week but that is exactly what has happened over night with news of a monster trade emerging in the NFL.
Multiple outlets have reported that the Kansas City Chiefs have agreed to to trade starting QB Alex Smith to the Washington Redskins, in exchange for a third-round pick and cornerback Kendall Fuller. In a move which has shocked the sport, the 33-year-old veteran has moved to the capital and landed himself a big money four year contract extension at the same time.
The move will have major knock-on implications across the League with current Redskins starter Kirk Cousins now expected to hit free agency and become the highest paid player in the history of the sport. Cousins has played his last two seasons in DC under the one year franchise tag deals, and with the two sides unable to agree terms on a long term deal, the 29-year-old now looks set to cash in with a host of teams lining up for his services.
The front office in Washington have failed to be convinced that Cousins is the man to build the team around in the long term but he won't be short of offers in a QB needy league. The Browns, Broncos, Giants, Bills and Jaguars have all been reported to be interested in making a move, and it now appears as if he will go to the highest bidder for the 2018 campaign.
The Chiefs suffered a shocking exit at the hands of the Titans in the wild card round earlier this month and although Smith has an excellent record in Kansas City, it looks as though they are looking to the future. 2016 first-round draft pick Patrick Mahomes reportedly impressed the coaching staff during his rookie campaign and he will now get his chance to become the long term starter under centre at Arrowhead in 2018.
Smith had a career year during the 2017 regular season as he went past 4000 passing yards for the first time, picked up 26 TDs and threw for just five interceptions as he led the Chiefs to the AFC West title. The Redskins will be delighted if the former 49ers QB can replicate those numbers at Fedex Field over the next four years, but the worry is that those stats were an out-lier in a stacked offence as opposed to the norm.
All eyes will now turn to the future of Kirk Cousins over the coming months as a host of teams queue up for the services of a man who has passed 4000 yards for the past three seasons. A gunslinger who makes more mistakes than the solid Smith, he is far from the finished article but QB's with his ability to move the ball on the free market are few and far between, which means he should have his choice of destinations.
There is only one certainty out of this trade and that is that Kirk Cousins is going to get paid.
Right then, back to the Super Bowl...
