Alex Smith To Seek Release – Jaguars Dream Scenario

Nothing like having a career season end by being benched in favor of your backup.  Come to Jacksonville Mr. Smith, we like you here. Source: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-USA TODAY Sports

The Jacksonville Jaguars desperately need a quarterback.  Whether it’s Marcedes Lewis telling TMZ that the Jags need one or whether it’s the obvious statistical failures of Chad Henne and Blaine Gabbert that clue you in, the Jags will be in the market for a quarterback this offseason.  While GM Dave Caldwell said there would be a competition at quarterback for the starting quarterback position (Gabbert’s chances may have improved with the hiring of OC Jedd Fisch who puts his quarterbacks in a position to spread it around) there would be a clear front runner if Alex Smith came to town.  Without a clear-cut franchise quarterback in the 2013 draft, Smith could be just what the Jaguars need.

Smith isn’t the be-all, end-all of quarterbacks, but he was having a heck of season (70% complete, 13 TDs to only 6 picks, 173 yards per game, 6-2-1 as a starter) before being benched in favor of Colin Kaepernick.  His poise, leadership, accuracy, and smart ball decisions would all be welcome in Jacksonville.  The only problem is that the San Francisco 49ers want to trade him and he’s due $8.5 million.

That’s pretty pricey for a backup in San Fran and it’s pretty pricey for a quarterback who has 1.5 good seasons and was benched in favor of a second year player.

Fortunately for Jacksonville, they could get the player so many fans coveted when the idea of hiring Niners OC Greg Roman was floating around.  Smith wants a release from the Niners.  He is expected to seek his release rather than allow the Niners to cash in on his (realistically) inflated value from 2011 and 2012.  While being released from San Francisco may be the “fair move” to the once #1 overall pick, it doesn’t make smart business sense for San Francisco.  So, if the Jags are truly interested in getting Smith, it may be best to hold off for a bit before making it known that they want him so it’s harder for the Niners to shop his $8.5 million salary.

But then again, we kind of need a quarterback.

– Luke N. Sims

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