KC Chiefs: Alex Smith Considered Below Average Quarterback

The debate if KC Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith is a good quarterback or not is a heated one in Kansas City by Chiefs fans. It seems to be about half and half in Chiefs fans’ opinions as to if Smith is good or not, but Andy Benoit of Sports Illustrated shared his own opinion earlier this week with his NFL quarterback rankings.

Benoit had Smith ranked in the bottom half of the current starting quarterbacks in the NFL, at 18th overall. I know a lot of Chiefs fans aren’t real high on Smith and doesn’t think he’s the guy who will take the Chiefs to the promise land, but I feel like he should be ranked in the top half of quarterbacks. Granted, I would probably put him at 15 or 16, but still. He’s in the better half in my honest opinion.

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Here was what Benoit had to say about Smith,

"Underrated mobility adds a dimension to a QB who operates under defined reads and who attempts safe throws almost exclusively."

Smith takes a lot of heat from fans mainly due to his inability to throw down the field. Since coming to Kansas City in 2013, Smith has been known to predominantly dump the ball off on short passes. That can certainly be frustrating at times, but Smith is better than a lot of guys out there in the NFL right now.

Here were the guys that Benoit ranked above Smith:

Tom Brady
Aaron Rodgers
Andrew Luck
Peyton Manning
Ben Roethlisberger
Philip Rivers
Drew Brees
Joe Flacco
Matt Ryan
Tony Romo
Eli Manning
Russell Wilson
Matthew Stafford
Carson Palmer
Ryan Tannehill
Cam Newton
Jay Cutler

So, the ones you would expect for the most part. Maybe it’s just the Saints fan in me, but I would have Drew Brees ranked higher than Philip Rivers.

Regarding Smith though, I’d put him at 15th on this list. I would give him the edge over Ryan Tannehill due to making it to and winning in the playoffs. Cam Newton has won in the playoffs, but he looked shaky at times last season. Don’t even get me started on Jay Cutler being ranked over Smith on here. I know he has a good arm, but he’s been dreadful the past few seasons.

During his time with the Kansas City Chiefs, Smith has compiled a 19-11 record, thrown for over 6,500 yards, 41 touchdowns, and only 13 interceptions. He’s also gained 685 yards with his legs too.

Smith also has done all of that with a shaky offensive line and not great wide receivers. This upcoming season will eliminate both of those excuses (well to some extent… We’re not sure what will happen at center this season) and it’s time for Smith to go out there and prove the haters wrong.

Oh and for what it’s worth… Matt Cassel was ranked last on this list. Pick your poison Chiefs Kingdom.

Next: Chiefs Quarterbacks Throughout the Years, Part 2

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