Per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Washington Football Team is expected to release fourteen-year NFL veteran and 2020 NFL Comeback Player of the Year, Alex Smith.
After nearly losing his leg, and his life, in 2018, Smith defied the odds and returned under-centre for the Football Team for the 2020 season.
Smith featured eight times for the Washington Football Team in 2020, starting six games in total. In the process, Smith threw for 1582 yards, 6 touchdowns and 8 interceptions with a completion percentage of 66.7%.
Among the highlights of Smith’s comeback tour was handing the 11-0 Steelers their first loss of the 2020 season, besting Ben Roethlisberger and co. 23-17.
Statistics and accolades aside, it was enough for Smith that he was able to suit up and play football in 2020. For his is aim was bigger than football, Smith wanted to regain control of his life.
‘This time it wasn’t about football—it was bigger,’ Smith announced during his acceptance speech for the CPOY award. ‘It was about me being a father to play with my children, a husband to go on walks with my wife, and despite my new limitations, me getting my life back.’
Alex Smith released: Offseason options
With that said, what does the future hold for Alex Smith?
With plenty of money in the bank, an impressive NFL career behind him as well as completing his mission of defying the odds and returning from injury, retirement is certainly an option for Smith.
If he were to choose retirement, Smith would finish his career with 3,250 completions, 35,650 throwing yards and 199 touchdowns in 174 games. A statline not worthy enough to grant him access to the Hall of Fame, but a respectable career spending fourteen years at the top of the NFL ladder.
If Smith decides he still wants to play, then his best landing spot on paper would be the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Smith has past experience playing for Jags head coach, Urban Meyer, as well as possessing a valuable veteran presence in the locker room. It’s important to remember how integral Smith was to Patrick Mahomes‘ development, acting as a mentor to the gunslinger in Kansas City.
It would do the Jags no harm at all to allow Smith to take Trevor Lawrence under his wing and help the soon-to-be number one overall draft pick acclimatise to the NFL.