When it was announced that the Washington Redskins made a move to add the Kansas City Chief's Alex Smith and send Kirk Cousins into free agency, the critics came out in numbers. Most notably: longtime Washington fan Dale Earnhardt Jr.
When Earnhardt learned that Washington traded for Smith from Kansas City he said, "Nothing dull about being a Redskins fan."
Nothing dull about being a @Redskins fan. Full of surprises. pic.twitter.com/jxb39XpyZF
— Dale Earnhardt Jr. (@DaleJr) January 31, 2018
The move made to acquire Smith from the Chiefs will send up-and-coming defensive star Kendall Fuller as well as a third-round draft pick. The move will put Cousins on the free agent market and will clear some cap space for Washington. The team had applied the franchise tag to Cousins for the past two seasons and if they were to do so again he would've made upwards of $34 million for the 2018 season.
Earnhardt believes his favorite team is paying a veteran of Smith's caliber far more than they should, and that letting go of such a promising young talent in Fuller will be a regrettable mistake.
Way too much per year for Alex. Fuller showed great long term potential in an improved defense. Get a terrible feeling about this trade. https://t.co/PnVGGq8S4X
— Dale Earnhardt Jr. (@DaleJr) January 31, 2018
Earnhardt understands it would've been far too expensive for the team to keep Cousins. The ability to build around Cousins would've been tough with a lack of funding.
He would have cost so much it would have crippled the teams ability to build around him and on defense.
— Dale Earnhardt Jr. (@DaleJr) January 31, 2018
Don?t mind Alex. Hoped to keep Cousins and avoid the cap hit but lost Cousins and somehow still rumored to take a chunk of cap space. https://t.co/TpE47NDGs9
— Dale Earnhardt Jr. (@DaleJr) January 31, 2018
There are a list of team that could benefit from the services of Cousins and Earnhardt believes the Denver Broncos would be the best fit for him.
https://twitter.com/DaleJr/status/958544365974118400