Originally posted by BobS:
Dude is nuts. If before a draft all teams knew what level a player would attain, and they had a QB who would put up above average numbers immediately what round would he get drafted in? Anything after the 3rd round they are fishing for a back-up, Alex is not a back-up. No one would expect to pull a starter out of round six. I know late round QBs made it in the NFL, but they probably shocked the people that drafted them.
How is it nuts? Alex Smith is not going to be a 49er next year. If the Cheifs really want him, they will just wait for him to get cut. The 49ers are not keeping him as a $8M backup. It doesn't matter what sort of smoke Jed York blows, he is not on this team next year. The 49ers simply do not have much leverage at all. There is incentive for a team to trade for him and acquire him at his current contract, but it's not enough incentive to give up a high draft pick. I could easily see Smith going for a conditional 4th-6th.