Cleveland Browns and Alex Smith? A closer look -- Terry Pluto
 

http://www.cleveland.com/pluto/index...x_smith_a.html


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CLEVELAND, Ohio -- As if the Cleveland Browns needed another reason to go after Alex Smith, consider this from Profootballfocus:

"One of the surprises of the season, Smith became the league's most efficient deep thrower, finishing first in adjusted completion percentage and yards while tying for first with 12 touchdowns.

"After generally ranking near the bottom in deep passing attempts in years past, a more aggressive approach had Smith ranked 11th with 12.3 percent of his attempts going deep this season. All told, it helped to pay off as he posted a career-high PFF grade."

I've always considered Smith a "game manager" style quarterback who also has the ability to run for first downs.

At best, I thought his arm strength was average.

Maybe it's average -- but he's finding ways to get the ball downfield to open receivers.

Of course, the Browns would have to secure some better receivers -- another job for new general manager John Dorsey.

It's common knowledge Dorsey likes the 33-year-old Smith. Trading for the veteran quarterback was one of his first moves after taking over the Kansas City Chiefs in 2013.

The Chiefs season ended Saturday after they blew a 21-3 lead to the Tennessee Titans in the AFC Wild Card game. The Titans came back to win, 22-21.

Had the Chiefs advanced deep into the playoffs, they probably would have been more likely to keep Smith.

Instead, they might turn to Patrick Mahomes. He was picked No. 10 in the 2017 draft ... by Dorsey. That was a month before he was fired as general manager of the Chiefs.

The Chiefs have Smith under contract for 2018 for $17 million. Kansas City also has some salary cap problems, another reason Smith could be traded.

Given the Browns have more than $100 million of salary cap room, that's no barrier for them.

The question would be what type of draft picks the Chiefs would want in return.

And Browns fans know, their favorite team has oodles of picks -- including three in the second round of 2018.

WHY SMITH?

Some things to consider about Smith:

1. He is the anti-DeShone Kizer. In the last three years covering 46 games, he has thrown 20 interceptions. Kizer threw 21 interceptions in 15 games this season.

2. Smith has lost six fumbles in the last four years. Kizer lost six fumbles in 15 games this season.

3. Smith has a 50-26 record in five years with the Chiefs. For his career, he is 88-62-1. Is he great? No. Can he win a lot of regular season games? Absolutely!

4. Besides the money, why would the Chiefs deal Smith? He's had problems in the playoffs. He is 1-4 in the postseason. He's not played that poorly: 65 percent completions, nine TDs compared to two interceptions in five games. But the Chefs could not make a real Super Bowl run.

5. Smith has become a victim of rising expectations in Kansas City. The Chiefs were 2-14 the season before he arrived. He helped turn them into a playoff team. But the goal is the Super Bowl, and January has been a cruel month for the Chiefs because of the playoffs.

6. Smith is very durable. He has missed only four games in five years with the Chiefs.

7. Smith would give the Browns an experienced, smart quarterback who is coming off the best season of his 12-year career. The Browns have not had a player like him since they returned in 1999.

8. Turnovers destroyed the Browns in several games last season. Adding Smith would cut them dramatically.

9. Several teams will be after Smith. Possible places for him include Denver, Arizona, the New York Jets and perhaps Jacksonville or Buffalo.

10. The more you look at Smith and how he fits with the Browns, the more attractive he becomes in an orange helmet.

Tl;dr.
Is he gone yet?

3, 7 and 8 are the important numbers.

They are a playoff team with Smith IMO.

They are in the cat bird seat.

Tons of cap room. Tons of picks.

They can get Smith and draft a QB of the future, AND still add top talent in this draft. insane!

No but lets hope it's the Browns Tiger's meltdown would be amazing.

SF to KC to CLE.

That's a downward trajectory if I've ever seen one.

Smith shits the bed every time he plays the Steelers.

I still think the browns would miss the play offs AFCN plays hard smash mouth football in cold weather.

Smith would crack under the pressure.

A 1st and a 3rd !

a fitting end for a mediocre QB.

Well Dorsey you heard the man, make it happen

Give Cleveland an A effort offseason capped by signing Smith, and drag their sorry asses up off the mat

If you dont love any QBs coming out this year, Smith not only gives you a dependable 2-3 year guy, but also buys you time to evaluate Kizer as the #2... and you can revisit the new rookie QB scenario in a year or two

Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaas.

It is the wisest Choice, Cleveland. Your fan base is already prepared.

REP!

I think the main point, is that he makes them respectable overnight. Is he going to dominate the Steelers no. But maybe they draft Barkley too and ply physical. Its not all on Alex.

Oh and Alex was 19/34 for 246 and a TD. That's not shitting the bed.

The difference between Browns fan's and Chiefs fans is astounding.

A ton of fans were pissed when the chiefs traded for Alex and got another retread.

Browns fans just want to get a few wins under their belt anyway they can.

I think he's the best option for a team trying to change their identity from a perennial loser like Cleveland. 0-32 in the past two years. He, along with that front office will turn them into a winning team potentially as soon as next year. Baby steps. Much like Reid and Smith did for the Chiefs. They will, in a few years, be needing to upgrade the position to get them over the hump, just like the Chiefs. But they have to take that first step.

All assuming it's Cleveland.

That is cool pic.

This would be epic can you imagine donk fans defending Smith?
Unleash hundreds of Tigers on the mange.

Smith had one of his lowest QBRs of the season against the Steelers. 35.8

In the playoffs last year it was 28.1.

The Steelers ****ing own him.

Very much this, he can do the same thing for them that he accomplished for us (stop laughing, haters)

They already have some nice players, so as you say, they could get back to a winning brand of football sooner rather than later... and would help create options for them at QB

Smith, Kizer, jag vet
Smith, Kizer, another #1
Smith, a new #1, jag vet, ditch Kizer

https://247sports.com/nfl/cleveland-...mith-113556591

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Won’t trade him in division. Cardinals or Browns are most likely spots <a href="https://t.co/bHwlVnNBv6">https://t.co/bHwlVnNBv6</a></p>&mdash; Joe Banner (@JoeBanner13) <a href="https://twitter.com/JoeBanner13/status/949821956244889601?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 7, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Browns considered a favorite to land QB Alex Smith

The Cleveland Browns are considered a favorite to land Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith this off-season.

The team is loaded with draft picks and salary cap space. Chiefs General Manager Brett Veach worked under Browns General Manager John Dorsey in Kansas City for three seasons. In fact, Dorsey hired him to the staff so there is a relationship there. Dorsey, as his first act, acquired Smith from the San Francisco 49ers.

Who would be Cleveland's chief competition in a trade for Smith?

Optimum Scouting's Eric Galko believes the Washington Redskins will be involved if Kirk Cousins departs in free agency.

"Alex Smith will have plenty of teams bidding for him. I expect Cleveland and Washington (if it loses Cousins) to be the favorites. Case Keenum is expected to get a multiyear offer from the Vikings, but the Bills and Chiefs (if Smith leaves) are expected to have interest."

Cousins would reportedly have a serious interest in Cleveland as well.

The Jacksonville Jaguars, Denver Broncos and Arizona Cardinals are also expected to have interest. Former Browns CEO Joe Banner feels that the Cardinals will be the stiffest competition for Smith. Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer has already announced his retirement.

Smith was asked after their playoff loss to the Tennessee Titans if he would want to stay in Kansas City. His answer was yes, but he is the ultimate company man and teammate. His willingness to serve as a mentor for any potential draft choice is another reason why he is coveted by teams. The Chiefs are reportedly open to dealing the quarterback's services.

Las Vegas has already revealed odds on where they expect Smith to play next season.

Smith, 33, completed 341-of-505 passes for 4,042 yards, 26 touchdowns and five interceptions during the regular season. He also had 60 carries for 355 yards and a touchdown.

Cleveland is expected to pursue a veteran quarterback as well as select a rookie high in the draft. They own the No. 1 and No. 4 overall selections.

if the browns Trade for Smith they should also Draft QB High in the draft.

Smith always plays his best football when a rookie is on his ass trying to take his job.

I just don't think that Dorsey will trade for Alex Smith.You have to think that Dorsey would feel a little bit slighted by the Kansas City organization. Dorsey would also have to know how Alex Smith is going to feel about someone trading for Smith as a placeholder.

Why would the Chiefs have interest in Keenum? Am I reading that wrong?

OH, what you've done here is very, very good.

Arizona makes sense too.
They've got decent WRs, Fitzgerald might stay if they bring in a vet qb, Johnson would be coming back from injury....they'd have to feel that Smith was a comparable replacement for Palmer.

Jags sign Cousins.
Browns trade for Smith.
We sign Bridgewater to back up Mahomes.

This would make my year.

How much is Teddy making now? I kinda like the idea of Chase Daniel for the backup spot.

If Dorsey likes Smith and they can make a deal he will trade for him. It has nothing to do with how he left KC.

Who knows what he is thinking, but if he felt Smith gave him the best chance to start winning asap, I doubt he'd be petty enough to not get the guy because of how it ended here

As for Smith, he has to know he only has 2-3 genuinely productive years left anyway... he would get an extension on his contract equal to the GDP of a small country, and would be a genuine hero to a win starved fanbase

If that isnt good enough for him, screw him

I just don't see Alex Smith turning the Browns into a winning team without A LOT of other things going right in the offseason for them.

Alex came to the Chiefs to a roster that didn't match their 2012 record. We had the 5th best rushing attack in the league and while the defense did have a shit year they were near top 10 the previous years with Eric Berry coming back from his ACL and a lot of talented players that our still the core of the defense today.

The Browns have a god awful defense that has been 2nd and 3rd worst the last 2 seasons, with an average running game, and their #1 receiver is lining up in the backfield (perfect target for Alex).

Alex isn't turning that team into a winner without a ****ton of help. Sure they have the picks and money to give him that help but that's a lot to fix in one offseason.

I think he could.....But Hue Jackson sucks.

1 win in 2 years is godawful. Some of the worst Head coaches in NFL history have gotten more wins than that in 2 years.

They have some talent there, not loaded, but more than 1 win in 2 seasons worth of talent.

Browns fans don't want him.

https://www.reddit.com/r/Browns/comm...a_closer_look/

Would love that.

Yeah signing a 29 year old Cousins means you are not drafting a qb with one of the first 4 picks in the draft.

Alex + top QB in draft > Cousins.

All. Day. Long.

The appeal of Smith is that you can win down and develop a QB for a year or two. Especially important if Hue Jackson does't stick around.

Cousins is the best QB in the free agency No way in hell he is going to the Browns not when he could be in Den/AZ.

Beggars wanna be choosers

Watch that town light up with joy at 8-8, and a new #1 hotshot on the bench waiting to take over

$$$

Would not pay him a dime more than 20 mil, period. He has shown no ability to overcome anything and take his team to the top just like most say Smith hasn't. Younger but no better and would kill a team's salary cap and limit the rest of the roster.

I was curious what Browns fans really thought, and...they really DO want Smith. Although possible compensation seem to be around a single 2nd round pick.

http://thebrownsboard.com/topic/49020-alex-smith/

KC fans invading their board to warn them about Smith would seem very similar to PHI fans invading CP to warn us about Andy's flaws.

There are also hints of being pretty optimistic about Dorsey.

He's going to receive the biggest contract in history. Someone will break it next year but he'll be the guy for a while.

No QB will ever succeed in Cleveland, so Smith might as well go there.

Any KC fan who does that will be found guilty of high treason and banished from the Kingdom.

Not surprised this is coming from OP

Probably would be the first time in history that Chiefs and Bronco fans would unite. Dude would get crushed.

incoming Crybaby shitpost.

Alex would have more talent surrounding him in Cleveland than KC.

OL=Joe Thomas, Joel Bitonio, Kevin Zietler and JC Tretter.
Josh Gordon
Corey Coleman
David Njoku

You’re probably going to get Saquon Barkley too.

At this rate, he will retire in Pile high

Do you really believe that Dorsey would ever spend a top 5 picl for a RB?

Would love to see Cleveland draft Derrius Guice, if they do sign Alex.

Those guys are shit stirring assholes pumping themselves up like bargain basement Schefters saying I told you so

If the Browns wanna climb out of the gutter, while building for the future... Smith is the way to go

Cleveland hasnt done DICK in forever, .500 is not beneath them

I'd be shocked if there were not already several here that have gone to other team boards to set the stage. If not yet, they will.

Ya, I don't buy that for a second. That offense was atrocious last year with "All that talent". Josh Gordon is a total stud, but Coleman and njoku aren't even close to hill and kelce. Also hunt is much better than any RB they have.

For Saquon Barkley? Yes

It would be nice if we could deal him for a really good WR as well as a draft pick. Mahomes needs another WR. Gordon would be a sweet addition and Dorsey might be willing to part with a potential headache.

I think whoever trades for Alex will be giving him a 3-year extension, so if it's CLE I think they aren't drafting a QB. Which might be the right call this year...

Cleveland would be retarted not to draft a QB with the talent available this year while having #1 and #4 .Hell, they should draft two and skip smith.

I'm not saying that they should or shouldn't draft one, I'm just expecting that whoever trades for Smith will extend him and use him for a few years. If that's the case, and CLE plans to draft a QB early, then they aren't a logical destination for Smith.

Every one of those prospects could be a bust very easily. Cleveland needs to build up other areas and try to get a veteran QB.

You act as if their roster is dog $hit. Its not.

Joe Thomas - At 33 age could start to factor in however. 3rd over all pick
Kevin Zeitler - Late first round pick. Only 27
J.C. Tretter - 26 - FA center from GB
Joel Bitonio - 26 - 2nd round pick

That's a pretty good line if Thomas sticks around. And with Dorsey in town, why wouldn't he?

They need a running back.

They don't have a WR over the age of 26, plus they have Josh Gordon's rights who is 26. Josh Gordon, Corey Coleman, and Sammie Coates plus David Njoku at TE could be a nice group with a decent QB.

On D you have guys like Jamie Collins, Myles Garrett, Jabrill Peppers, and a bunch of other highly draft young defensive players.

This is not a team in need of a rebuild. It has stockpiled talent. It needs to find direction.

Dorsey inherits all these good picks here and there and neither are good drafts

As previously stated, for Smiths sake... I'd like to see him on the Jaguars, legit shot at a very deep playoff run there

But as a 'for the good of football in general' pick, Alex in Cleveland makes a ton of sense... some of them may not think they want him, but as soon as he beats a few division rivals they'll come around in a big way

1. When you have a stout running game, best tightend and elite defense (chiefs defense was top 5 for much of smith’s time here), you can game managed. Game managing means lower risky throws, thus less interceptions. In Cleveland he’ll be expected to grow far more. Good luck with that.

2. Who cares?

3. It’s easy to win when you’re on a good team.

4. He horrible in the playoffs. Not just this year, but historically. And you gotta make the playoffs first.

5. Smith has wasted some of the chiefs’ most stacked teams. The chiefs’ were in the playoffs just two years prior to smith. It was reid who turned the franchise around just like it was harbaugh who turned he niners around when smith stunk up candlestick park for six years.

6. Yes, he’s durable, unfortunately.

7. I’m so tired of hearing about how smart he is. This dude made a career on screen passes. Not much pre-snap read required for that.

8. Again, that’s assuming smith is not asked to make difficult passes, which he will. You can’t game manage on a crappy team.

9. Shows the crappy state of the QB Market.

10. Alex smith will be exposed even more in an orange helmet.


As for his deep passing stats this year, two words: tyreek. Hill.

Chiefs are a good team and Alex Smith couldn't get them over the hump. He ain't doing with the Jaguars either.

Well we know that but other dumbasses don't, which will pay great dividends when we trade his ass.

The Browns have some really good sports writers.

Terry Pluto is pretty good. And his article is spot on. Smith has limitations that don't make him an ideal fit for the Chiefs, but he has strengths that make him an ideal fit for where Cleveland is right now.

What are his strengths that will allow him to carry the worst franchise in all of sports?

The Browns probably have a handful of wins this year if Kizer doesn't turn the ball over at an absurd clip.

Alex at least does that decently.

I don’t think you guys understand what’s gonna happen with smith in Cleveland. He will be asked to make deep throws on a consistent basis, without Hill. He’ll be asked to make anticipation throws. He will be asked to throw receivers open, which is leading a covered receiver to a spot where he’ll be moderately open. He’ll be asked to make tight-window throws. Alex smith will be asked throw more in general, for four quarters. That’s because the browns are bad and dysfunctional. Smith does not have the ability.

The browns haven't had a stable qb since Bernie Kosar. And when I say not stable, I mean that almost every qb has been Brady Quinn bad.

The browns aren't desperate for a super bowl. They are desperate for 8-8. And with that team and their cap space, Alex can do that for them. They are in a different place than them. We need to move on. They just need stability.

Smih’s Interception will skyrocket when he’s asked to compensate for the 31st ranked defense in the league. No more screen passes and conservative attacks. He’ll be asked to sling it, especially in hue’s system.

Consistently avoiding the back breaking ****up would be a good start for you guys

Throw in a revamped defense, and you clowns just might surprise a few teams... what have you got to lose? You can keep crying about not having the next Johnny U, or you can start getting your club used to winning some games, while developing your next Big Thing

Alex will go back to being a game manager. He will have a good Gregg Williams defense and if they draft Barkley could have an outstanding running game. I always thought a big strength of his is that he does make bad teams look average. His supporting cast in 2013 and 2014 weren't great. That's what the browns need. The things you're talking about are things that take a team from average to great. I agree, but thats not what the browns are looking for.

He was already playing for a bottom range ranked D.

We’ve seen Alex smith on a bad team, it’s called the 2004-2010 49ers.

The Browns aren't that bad of a team. They mostly suffer from dog shit QB play.

The last time they had decent play, they went 10-6.

Chiefs’ defense ranks 15, with 21 ppg. And defense’s stats are marred by three games: patriots, Texans and raiders. They were actually pretty good.