Alex Smith says Kansas City Chiefs offense can’t be as potent without Tyreek Hill
Among the score of NFL analysts, no one is better suited than ESPN’s Alex Smith to explain how the trade of receiver Tyreek Hill to the Miami Dolphins will affect the Chiefs offense.
Smith was the Chiefs starting quarterback from 2013-17 before being traded to Washington. Those five seasons were all under Andy Reid, who is still the Chiefs coach. Smith played two seasons with Hill, so he understands how the Cheetah’s absence will change the Chiefs offense.
“Flat out, you’re not going to replace him,” Smith said Wednesday on the “Rich Eisen Show.” “There is literally only one Tyreek Hill in the whole NFL. He is that kind of difference maker. I was fortunate enough to play my last few years in Kansas City with him. Honestly, when he’s on the field, the defense plays differently, he opens up so many other players around him because everyone is so fearful.
“There is a lot of fast guys in the league that are very one dimensional. Tyreek is not that. We saw that throughout the playoffs. Catch-and-run, catching the deep ball, put him back there on punt, kickoff returns, hand him the ball in the backfield. He’s an incredible weapon, incredibly unique and you’re just not gonna fill those shoes. I do think they won’t be as dynamic on offense.”
The Chiefs had been working on an extension for Hill, who had signed a three-year, $54 million deal that expired after the 2022 season. But the extension talks fell through and Hill was sent to Miami for five draft picks.
Smith wasn’t entirely surprised to hear of the trade in part because of his history with the Chiefs.
“This is the trade off that I think Andy is thinking about and (Chiefs general manager) Brett Veach is there looking at it as well, for the salary that they were potentially going to get him and the draft picks that they got in return, can they go be better on the defensive side of the ball? I think they look back to a few years ago is maybe they’re going to be more balanced, offense and defense,” Smith said.
“This has kind of been Andy’s M.O. his entire coaching career is rather than let you play out your contract and walk away for nothing, he’s certainly going to try and get value for you while he can. I was even a product of that, right? I mean how many quarterbacks have we seen him do this with over the years where he does trade them and get value back and they do a great job of developing talent.”
Where Chiefs go from here
The haul of draft picks and the extra cap space will be beneficial to the Chiefs but they can’t truly replace Hill, Smith said.
But Smith believes the Chiefs will be able to adjust in Hill’s absence up to a point.
“I know they were trying to get him re-signed because he is so special. But obviously, the numbers just didn’t quite make sense,” Smith said. “And they decided to make this move, and it’s bold.
“They’re not going to replace him on offense. You’re not gonna find anybody in the draft (or) out there in free agency that’s going to fill those shoes, so they’re going to have to adjust a little bit offensively.
“But I think the big question is maybe as a team, can they be better from it, right? That cap space, can they go get some other players maybe on the defensive side of the ball with those draft picks? Can they get some role players come in and help them this next year? I think that’s the equation they’re trying to make but they will not be as explosive as they have been on offense — period — with Tyreek gone. You can’t. He’s just that kind of player.”
Here is Smith talking about Hill:
This story was originally published March 31, 2022 at 11:44 AM.
