Kansas City traded Alex Smith to Washington for cornerback…
Kansas City traded Alex Smith to Washington for cornerback Kendall Fuller and the 78th pick in the 2018 draft. Fuller gave the Chiefs two seasons of secondary play and was part of the Super Bowl LIV roster, while the draft capital added another valuable asset. The move also cleared the starting job for Patrick Mahomes, making Kansas City's return unusually strong even before considering the quarterback succession.
Kansas City Chiefs Received
- player Kendall Fuller
- pick 2018 3rd round pick (78th overall subsequently traded, Malik Jefferson )
Washington Commanders Received
- player Alex Smith
Trade Analysis
What Changed Hands
Kansas City traded quarterback Alex Smith to Washington when the 2018 league year opened. In return, the Chiefs received cornerback Kendall Fuller and a 2018 third-round pick, No. 78. Washington acquired a veteran quarterback coming off one of the best seasons of his career. Kansas City, meanwhile, had already drafted Patrick Mahomes in 2017 and was ready to move the offense to its younger quarterback while recovering value for Smith.
Why Kansas City Pulled Ahead
Washington did not receive a poor player. Smith guided the club to a 6-3 record in his nine 2018 starts before suffering a devastating leg injury, and his eventual return to the field in 2020 became one of the league's remarkable comeback stories. The cost, however, was substantial. Fuller was a young, ascending cornerback who played two seasons for Kansas City and was on the Super Bowl LIV championship team. The Chiefs also gained No. 78, giving them another premium Day 2 asset.
How the Trade Aged
The quarterback succession makes the deal even more favorable to Kansas City, though Mahomes himself was not acquired in this trade and should not be counted as an incoming asset. The transaction allowed the Chiefs to move forward cleanly with the quarterback they had already selected while adding defensive help and draft capital. Washington's injury misfortune was impossible to predict, and Smith later provided genuine value through his comeback, so the receiving side deserves more credit than a simple box-score comparison would suggest.
Final Verdict
Kansas City wins with an A-, while Washington earns a B-. The Chiefs extracted a starting-caliber corner and a third-round pick from a veteran they were prepared to replace, then opened the path for their next quarterback era. Washington received meaningful leadership and winning play, but the package it surrendered created greater long-term value for Kansas City.