Feb 24, 2013; Indianapolis, IN, USA; West Virginia quarterback Geno Smith (13) participates in a passing drill during the NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

There will be a lot of speculation about the Jacksonville Jaguars going after West Virginia quarterback Geno Smith with the second overall selection in April’s draft now that the Kansas City Chiefs have announced a trade for Alex Smith.  Take this as what it is, speculation.  I think it is beyond simply speculation about what the Jags will do with their pick, and speculation about how GM Dave Caldwell sees the team’s priorities.

The Jags’ number two pick is not the most valuable commodity on the market and it is now possible that a team leapfrogs them to trade with the Chiefs if they so favor Smith.  The Jaguars need to think about what they can do with pick number two in all possibilities.  Smith is just one option in a multitude of defensive tackle, defensive end, cornerback, and offensive linemen possibilities.  The odds don’t seem to be in his favor.

The Jags have a lot of holes right now and the team may not be in favor of trying of spending their top pick on a player who is so close, in terms of skill level, to his draft counterparts.  The best value seems to be waiting until the 4-5 round for Arizona QB Matt Scott.

That said, Smith could be the trade bait the Jags have been hoping for.  If the Chiefs opt to go after left tackle Luke Joeckel, then the second overall pick becomes a whole lot more valuable.  Teams like the Arizona Cardinals and Buffalo Bills may try to out-position each other.  Unfortunately, we likely won’t know any of this until draft day.

Smith would be a big intrigue for the open quarterback competition planned this offseason.  Do the Jags think he’s so much better than someone like Scott that he’s worth using the second overall pick for?  I don’t think so.  We’ll have to wait and see.

- Luke N. Sims

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Feb 3, 2013; New Orleans, LA, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Alex Smith (11) warms up against the Baltimore Ravens in Super Bowl XLVII at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

The Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers have reached an agreement to trade quarterback Alex Smith to the Chiefs.  The exact details have yet to be released.  The trade will not be official until Free Agency starts on march 12th.

Deal has been agreed upon between Chiefs and 49ers. Compensation unclear but I’m told again Chiefs have made a clear commitment to Smith.

— Jay Glazer (@JayGlazer) February 27, 2013

Ad @jayglazer reported, 49ers have agreed to trade Alex Smith to Chiefs. Trade will be for draft picks – as in plural, per NFL sources.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 27, 2013

Now with Geno Smith incredibly unlikely to be taken at number one overall, the Jags may be in a position to trade out of number two if a team feels that they absolutely can’t live without the West Virginia Quarterback.  How likely is that to happen?  To be honest, I still don’t see Smith as the kind of quarterback that demands a trade like that.  Plenty of teams with early picks have far too many holes to fill rather than focusing on a slightly above average (in any other year) quarterback prospect.  The most likely team I see trading up is the Oakland Raiders, but even they have commitments to Carson Palmer and Terrelle Pryor.  Palmer alone is costing the team too much.  The Arizona Cardinals and the Buffalo Bills could also be interested, the Bills I see being a bigger contender because they can actually protect whomever is playing QB for them.

If the Jags are really considering Smith at number two overall, then their own pick just became more valuable to themselves.  I doubt the Jags would take a quarterback in the first round, but it’s all speculation now anyway.

There are still far too many options available early in the draft to make a trade with the Jags a sure thing.  To top things off, if a team really loves a player, they now can trade with Kansas City, who may be willing to part with the top pick since they now have their signal caller.  We shall see how things develop as free agency draws closer.

- Luke N. Sims

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You can also find me on Twitter @LukeNSims

Feb 3, 2013; New Orleans, LA, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Alex Smith (11) warms up against the Baltimore Ravens in Super Bowl XLVII at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

The San Francisco 49ers have reportedly found a trading partner for ex-starting quarterback Alex Smith.  The sought after quarterback who has had a career resurgence since Jim Harbaugh’s arrival as head coach two years ago is one of the more desirable quarterbacks this offseason.  Having led the league in completion percentage before being benched in favor of second year player Colin Kaepernick, quarterback needy teams have been linked to Smith all offseason.

The Jacksonville Jaguars have been linked to Smith as much as any other team.  Not likely to spend so much for what many consider a mediocre quarterback, the Jags have officially announced that it wasn’t them.  So, who is Smith going to?  We won’t know until March 12th, when the NFL year officially begins.

So, where does this leave teams like the Jaguars?  Who will be under center for 2013?

With West Virginia QB Geno Smith the favorite to go #1 overall, the Jags may not end up with a quarterback in the first round.  With a relatively shallow quarterback class coming out in this year’s draft, it seems unlikely that the Jags use their #33 pick to grab a lesser ranked passer when need and talent on both the defensive and offensive lines still match up at that point in the draft.

While it would be nice to grab a prospect like E.J. Manuel – especially if he slips to the mid rounds! (which he won’t) – I don’t see a passer coming out that could compete with Blaine Gabbert enough to push him out.  With the way the coaching staff has been talking lately, it seems that Gabbert is the one to beat in the open quarterback competition, even if he isn’t given an advantage in it.

2012 backup Chad Henne is still with the team but isn’t being talked about like Gabbert.  As we saw in 2012, it is unlikely that Henne will prove to be the better option during the offseason, so if the Jags bring in another player, as they are expected to, to compete it may likely be a free agent.

Some top quarterbacks likely to hit free agency are:

• Derek Anderson
• Charlie Batch
• Jason Campbell
• Brian Hoyer
• Tarvaris Jackson

There are a few others with starting experience, but it looks like a pretty slim field.  Jackson seems like an interesting prospect to bring in and compete, but the one-time Vikings starter has been underwhelming when on the field.  If the Jags are serious about pushing/beating Gabbert, this season does not seem to be the likely year it will happen.

While I doubt we’re stuck with just Gabbert and Henne for another season, the quarterback situation is bleak.  I hope Smith has a good go of it in whatever city he ends up, but there’s no denying that if his trade goes through there will be a lot less optimism – even if you didn’t want Smith – for teams that need a quarterback to step up.

- Luke N. Sims

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You can also find me on Twitter @LukeNSims