How the Alex Smith trade affects the Bears and the rest of NFL
Alex Smith
The Chiefs and Redskins managed to divert attention from Super Bowl LII with the news the Chiefs are shipping quarterback  Alex Smith  to Washington come March 14  when the 2018 league year kicks off.
 The major trade  â the Chiefs reportedly will receive a 2018 third-round draft pick and third-year cornerback Kendall Fuller  the younger brother of Bears cornerback Kyle Fuller â doesnât directly affect the Bears  but the quarterback market is always worth monitoring and there is a trickle-down effect that certainly involves those at Halas Hall. Here are five factors to keep in mind:
Cousins is no doubt in play for the Browns  Broncos and Jets. Thereâs a better chance the Giants draft a quarterback with Eli Manning still on board than pony up to sign Cousins. The musical chairs for Cousins begins March 14  when free agency opens and the  Smith  trade can officially be consummated.
2. Donât forget the Vikings. Case Keenum  Teddy Bridgewater and Sam Bradford are all coming out of contract. The reigning NFC North champions have a playoff-ready defense and plenty of pieces on offense. They seem likely to pursue a quarterback â perhaps one of their own â but would it have stunned anyone if general manager Rick Spielman had pulled the trigger on  Smith ? How primed the Vikings are to defend their division title next season will be determined in a big way by what they do at quarterback. Could Spielman make a play for Cousins?
5. The  Smith  trade makes Patrick Mahomes the starter in Kansas City. That means the top three quarterbacks from last yearâs draft â Trubisky  Mahomes and the Texansâ Deshaun Watson â will be in starting roles. Who will emerge as the top passer?
 Alex Smith  raves about what Matt Nagy will do for Bears and Mitch Trubisky Â»
Chiefs reach deal to trade  Alex Smith  to Redskins Â»
The Chiefs and Redskins managed to divert attention from Super Bowl LII with the news the Chiefs are shipping quarterback   [TGT]  come March 14  when the 2018 league year kicks off.
 The major trade  â the Chiefs reportedly will receive a 2018 third-round draft pick and third-year cornerback Kendall Fuller  the younger brother of Bears cornerback Kyle Fuller â doesnât directly affect the Bears  but the quarterback market is always worth monitoring and there is a trickle-down effect that certainly involves those at Halas Hall. Here are five factors to keep in mind:
Cousins is no doubt in play for the Browns  Broncos and Jets. Thereâs a better chance the Giants draft a quarterback with Eli Manning still on board than pony up to sign Cousins. The musical chairs for Cousins begins March 14  when free agency opens and the   [TGT] trade can officially be consummated.
2. Donât forget the Vikings. Case Keenum  Teddy Bridgewater and Sam Bradford are all coming out of contract. The reigning NFC North champions have a playoff-ready defense and plenty of pieces on offense. They seem likely to pursue a quarterback â perhaps one of their own â but would it have stunned anyone if general manager Rick Spielman had pulled the trigger on  [TGT]  ? How primed the Vikings are to defend their division title next season will be determined in a big way by what they do at quarterback. Could Spielman make a play for Cousins?
5. The   [TGT] trade makes Patrick Mahomes the starter in Kansas City. That means the top three quarterbacks from last yearâs draft â Trubisky  Mahomes and the Texansâ Deshaun Watson â will be in starting roles. Who will emerge as the top passer?
  [TGT]   raves about what Matt Nagy will do for Bears and Mitch Trubisky Â»
Chiefs reach deal to trade   [TGT]   to Redskins Â»