The 2020 season was filled with many memorable storylines. Arguably, the most inspirational on-field story was the return of quarterback Alex Smith to the gridiron.
Almost two years after a brutal leg injury that would require numerous surgeries and threaten his life, Smith returned to action as a backup QB for the Washington Football Team.
His first game back was in October 2020 against the Rams and he successfully made it through the game without any setbacks. A few weeks later, Smith would start for the WFT almost two years to the day he suffered the gruesome leg injury.
Smith’s return to the field helped provide stability to an inconsistent offense and led them to winning the NFC East division. It also earned Smith the NFL Comeback Player of the Year award.
Unfortunately, Smith and the WFT parted ways after the season ended largely due to the salary he was owed.
Currently, Smith is a free agent looking for his next team. Online sportsbooks with odds on the NFL have handicapped where they think Smith will play in 2021. Let’s huddle up and take a look at this Alex Smith prop bet courtesy of BetOnline.
Alex Smith, the NFL’s Comeback Player of the Year, will not be coming back to Washington.
The team officially released him today, making him a free agent.
(via @AdamSchefter) pic.twitter.com/hkCFfTX72C
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) March 5, 2021
Betting Odds on Alex Smith’s Next Team
- Jets (+200)
- Jaguars (+250)
- Colts (+350)
- Broncos (+500)
- Patriots (+550)
- Falcons (+700)
- 49ers (+750)
New York Jets (+200)
The New York Jets recently traded their starting quarterback Sam Darnold to the Carolina Panthers for a few draft picks. They’re picking #2 overall in the NFL Draft and the team has been linked to QB Zach Wilson from BYU.
With that said, they don’t have a veteran QB to backup Wilson. That’s where Alex Smith could come in. He would be a great candidate to fill the void and to mentor Wilson on and off the field.
Jacksonville Jaguars (+250)
Like the Jets, the Jacksonville Jaguars will draft a QB this year. They select #1 overall and are set to take quarterback Trevor Lawrence from Clemson.
The Jaguars still have Gardner Minshew on the roster and that could pose a problem for the team considering Minshew still aspires to be the starter like he was last year.
Minshew does have some trade value and the Jags might just trade him and go with a veteran QB as the backup.
Smith would be a great candidate for this role as he could reunite with his college head coach Urban Meyer who will begin his first season as an NFL head coach in 2021.
The Washington Football Team have released QB Alex Smith.
Smith won five of six starts with the team, led them to the NFC East title and was named Comeback Player of the Year last year.
(via @NFL) pic.twitter.com/zy8gOXOg7G
— Beyond The Bleachers (@BeyondBleachers) March 5, 2021
Indianapolis Colts (+350)
The Indianapolis Colts traded for Carson Wentz in the offseason which reunited the QB with his former offensive coordinator Frank Reich who is the head coach in Indy. Their backup quarterback is Jacob Eason.
The Colts could bring in a veteran QB to battle Eason for the backup spot and to ensure that the team won’t have any issues if Wentz gets hurt.
Although a veteran backup makes sense, I don’t see that being Smith. There are other teams he could join that put him one step closer to starting.
Denver Broncos (+500)
The Denver Broncos don’t have a lot of confidence in Drew Lock and they could be looking to bring in a veteran presence that challenges the young QB or even win the starting job.
Alex Smith is that type of player that fits the bill and could help Denver make a run at the Playoffs if pressed into duty. He would be a cheap insurance policy if the team decides to move in a different direction than Lock.
New England Patriots (+550)
The New England Patriots re-signed Cam Newton and have been rumored to move up in the draft and select a quarterback or potentially even trade with the 49ers to bring back Jimmy Garoppolo. Either way, there’s no room in New England for Alex Smith.
Atlanta Falcons (+700)
The Atlanta Falcons have Matt Ryan as their franchise quarterback, but they really don’t have anyone backing him up.
If Smith were to take a role that doesn’t allow for the possibility of starting then he would be better off going to Indy where he would be on one of the best teams in the AFC. The Falcons have too many issues and don’t appear any closer to making the Playoffs this year.
San Francisco 49ers (+750)
The San Francisco 49ers are going to select a quarterback with the #3 pick in the upcoming draft. They’ve been linked to Alabama QB Mac Jones as he seems to be a good fit for Shanahan’s offensive scheme.
San Francisco also has Jimmy Garoppolo on the roster who the team says will be their starting QB this year. Yet, the 49ers have been quietly shopping him ahead of the NFL Draft.
If Jimmy G. gets dealt, then Smith could fit in nicely with the team that originally drafted him. I doubt that Smith will wait until the 49ers clear up their QB situation. He should be able to find a few suitors before then.
Where Will Alex Smith Play in 2021?
As a starter in 2020, Smith completed 135 of 203 passes for 1,220 yards, five touchdowns and five interceptions.
He did this on an offense that had an inconsistent running game, a porous offensive line, and only one legitimate receiving weapon. Can you imagine how much better he would perform on a team like Denver?
The Broncos should be blowing up Smith’s phone to ensure that they have a quality backup in case Lock implodes this season.
With that said, I think heading to Jacksonville makes the most sense for Smith. He helped mentor both Mahomes and Kaepernick in his career and I expect him to be a great influence on Trevor Lawrence.
Furthermore, reuniting with Urban Meyer could open the door to other opportunities like getting into coaching when he’s done playing.
This wager all comes down to whether or not Smith is fine with being just a backup. He could want a shot to compete as a starter.
I would wait until we get closer to the NFL Draft before putting money on this prop bet. But, if you are insistent on making this wager then go with the Jags.
Which Team Will Smith Play For? –Jacksonville Jaguars (+250)
Rick Rockwell
As a longtime freelance writer, avid sports fan, former athlete, and experienced sports bettor, Rick Rockwell has risen up the ranks at GamblingSites.org to become the self-professed “King of the Blog” in his first year with the site. …
