Chicago Bears add these two quarterbacks to the evolving options list
Alex Smith is another rumored option for the Chicago Bears to possibly pursue
This is a very similar situation to the Ben Roethlisberger one. The one big difference here is that Alex Smith comes with greater risks. Seeing Smith on the field last season was an amazing storyline. It was about two years ago that the quarterback could have lost his life or at least his leg to a horrific injury similar to the one Bears fans saw Zach Miller go through in 2017 (that was a touchdown by the way). Miller never played a down again, but Alex Smith came back last year.
Alex Smith started six games for Washington in 2020 and the team went 5-1 during that span. Do not confuse this as good quarterback play from Smith though. During those six games, Alex Smith completed 66.7 percent of his passes, but he threw two more interceptions (8) than he did touchdowns (6). Smith also only averaged 197 yards per game.
Maybe we can account that to him not fully trusting his leg? Maybe we can look at that and say, well he was rusty from not playing for a full season? I am not ready to just chalk it up to those things and think Alex Smith is back. I’d be okay with signing him as a possible “second” option if the Chicago Bears can somehow move Nick Foles. If the team were to bring in a free agent like Ryan Fitzpatrick and pair him with Alex Smith and rookie, I would be somewhat intrigued.
Do not forget, Patrick Mahomes gives Alex Smith credit for helping him learn how to read and identify defensive coverages. Smith could play a similar role to a rookie here in Chicago. The team can have a three-way competition to see who starts in 2021 as both Fitzpatrick and Alex Smith are used to being in those types of situations anyway.
Like Pittsburgh, Washington will need to release Alex Smith for him to become an option for the Bears. He wants to play again this season but is under contract with Washington through 2022. He is set to earn $24.4 million if he remains in Washington, but the team can cut him and only pay $10.8 million in a dead cap hit. Washington has plenty of cap space and can easily eat either the $10.8 million or the $24.4 million. Personally, I think they release Alex Smith though.
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Just like Ben Roethlisberger, Alex Smith is nowhere near the top of my list but he also would not be at the bottom. I really only like Smith in the scenario I laid out above where he is competing with another veteran quarterback (Foles or another free agent) and a rookie, no matter what round, from the 2021 NFL Draft.