NFL

Alex Smith Chose Redskins for Team's Desire to Win

The Washington Redskins' new quarterback said he chose the team because of the organization's top-to-bottom desire to win.

Alex Smith signed a four-year contract extension Thursday. He was already signed at a salary-cap hit of $17 million for next season. His new deal agreed to in January is worth $94 million with $71 million guaranteed, meaning he's under contract through 2022.

To acquire Smith, the Redskins sent a 2018 third-round pick and promising young cornerback Kendall Fuller to the Kansas City Chiefs in a trade that became official Wednesday.

“There were a few teams who wanted Alex Smith, and he chose us,” Senior Vice President of Player Personnel Doug Williams said.

"This is where I wanted to be," Smith said. "It looked fun. I wanted to be a part of it."

Smith turns 34 in May and will be entering his 13th NFL season. He replaces Kirk Cousins as the Redskins' starting quarterback after that relationship ended following six turbulent years.

“We knew somewhere down the line we had to get a quarterback, and we went through all of them,” Williams said.

Smith got the long-term commitment from Washington that Cousins never received and seemingly didn't want the past two years.

“We’re not looking in the rearview mirror," Williams said. "We’re going forward.”

Cousins became the first QB in NFL history to play back-to-back seasons on the franchise tag and for whatever reason was never considered the future of the franchise by team President Bruce Allen, Williams and head coach Jay Gruden.

Saving some money from Cousins' asking price or a third tag to Smith's salary, the Redskins used some of that space Thursday to sign former Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Paul Richardson to a multiyear deal. Richardson gives Washington's offense the outside speed threat it lacked last season after DeSean Jackson left in free agency.

Cousins is reportedly getting an $84 million three-year contract that's fully guaranteed with the Minnesota Vikings.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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