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The one move that defined the 2018 NFL season for all 32 teams

By Erik Lambert

ALAMEDA, CA - JANUARY 09: Oakland Raiders new head coach Jon Gruden looks on during a news conference at Oakland Raiders headquarters on January 9, 2018 in Alameda, California. Jon Gruden has returned to the Oakland Raiders after leaving the team in 2001. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
ALAMEDA, CA - JANUARY 09: Oakland Raiders new head coach Jon Gruden looks on during a news conference at Oakland Raiders headquarters on January 9, 2018 in Alameda, California. Jon Gruden has returned to the Oakland Raiders after leaving the team in 2001. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) /
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LANDOVER, MD – NOVEMBER 18: Alex Smith #11 of the Washington Redskins is helped off the field after being sacked and injured by Kareem Jackson #25 of the Houston Texans in the third quarter of the game at FedExField on November 18, 2018 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

Washington Redskins: Trading for Alex Smith

The move itself wasn’t overly panned at the time. It made some sense. It was clear the Washington Redskins were ready to move on from Kirk Cousins this offseason. Either that or he had basically navigated his way out of town. Regardless, they made the bold move to trade for veteran quarterback Alex Smith from Kansas City who’d made him available with the plan to switch to Patrick Mahomes this season.

Smith was coming off his best season as a pro, a four-time Pro Bowler known for his leadership and ability to manage a game. His numbers aren’t always pretty, but he tends to win more games than he loses.

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This became true at the start of the season. Playing ball control offense, the Redskins churned out a 6-4 record with Smith and were atop the NFC East. Then he broke his leg badly against Houston, ending his year.His loss has completely deflated the team, who’s lost four-straight since he went down.

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