Oakland Raiders: Ranking The AFC West By Position Group – Quarterbacks
By Kevin Saito
3. Alex Smith (Kansas City Chiefs)
To say that Alex Smith is the least exciting quarterback in the NFL would be an understatement on par with saying Antarctica is a pretty chilly place. There is very little flash or dazzle to Smith’s game. And yet, credit where credit is due, he does find ways to get the job done.
Smith is an effective game manager – although, that’s used more as an epithet than anything now, these days. But that’s what he does. He doesn’t make a lot of mistakes, but he’s not going to take over a game and win it for you all on his own either.
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That being said, he does own a 79-56-1 record as a starter. He’s thrown for 27,846 yards on 61.7 precent passing in his eleven year career, has thrown 156 touchdowns against just 91 interceptions, and has posted an 85.3 career QB rating.
He’s never thrown more than 23 touchdowns in any one season, and 2016 was his career high in yards, with 3,502.
Competent, obviously. But not flashy. And not the guy who is going to put a team on his back and carry them very far.
Let’s not forget, this is also the quarterback who went an entire season in Kansas City without throwing a touchdown to a wide receiver. Not one. And given that the Chiefs kicked Jeremy Maclin to the curb this offseason without warning, this could be another fairly dry year for the Kansas City wide receivers corps – Tyreek Hill can only do so much.
Smith is obviously in the twilight of his career and the Chiefs are already looking ahead to having Patrick Mahomes to under center, but they’re going to give him some time to get ready to take that next step.
Which means, Smith will very likely continue on as the starter this season and once again, be the third-best quarterback in the division.