With training camp set to begin next month, Redskins.com previews the current state of the Redskins' roster, starting today with the team's quarterbacks.
The Washington Redskins significant changed their quarterbacks room this offseason with the addition of three-time Pro Bowler Alex Smith and third-year veteran Kevin Hogan via trades while Colt McCoy remains the familiar face.
Addition(s): Alex Smith (trade with Kansas City) and Kevin Hogan (trade with Cleveland)
Subtraction(s): Kirk Cousins (signed with Minnesota)
CURRENT STATE OF THE UNIT:
After two seasons with their starting quarterback playing under the franchise tag, the Washington Redskins finally have their main signal caller under contract for the foreseeable future.
When the NFL's calendar flipped over to a new year, the Redskins officially acquired three-time Pro Bowler Alex Smith from the Kansas City Chiefs in exchange for cornerback Kendall Fuller and a third-round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. Shortly after getting Smith to Washington, the Redskins signed the 34-year-old to a contract extension.
In Smith, the Redskins are getting a player who not only has significant starting experience, but also someone who continues to be productive under center.
Since entering the league as the No. 1-overall pick in the 2005 NFL Draft, Smith has appeared in 156 regular season games with 151 starts, collecting nearly 32,000 passing yards with 183 touchdown passes to 96 interceptions.
While Smith was productive during his time with the San Francisco 49ers, the Utah product blossomed in his five seasons with the Chiefs. In total for Kansas City, Smith accumulated a 50-26 regular season record as he threw for a combined 17,608 yards with 102 touchdowns.
Last year, he eclipsed the 4,000-yard mark for the first time in his career while throwing 26 touchdown passes to just five interceptions.
While Smith is a new face under center, he'll be backed up by Washington's longest tenured quarterback in Colt McCoy. After splitting the first four seasons of his professional career between the 49ers and Cleveland Browns, McCoy is entering his fifth straight season in Washington.
McCoy hasn't attempted a pass since the 2015 regular season finale but is a player head coach Jay Gruden remains confident in if needed to run the offense.
Behind McCoy on the depth chart is third-year veteran Kevin Hogan, who started his career on the same roster as Smith in Kansas City before two seasons with the Browns.
In eight career regular season appearances with one start, Hogan has completed 60-of-101 pass attempts for 621 yards with four touchdowns. He's also carried the ball 18 times for 176 yards and one touchdown.
WHAT TO WATCH:
This will be the fans' first opportunity to see how Smith is fitting in with Washington. During offseason workouts at the Inova Sports Performance Center at Redskins Park in Loudoun County, Va., Smith impressed his teammates with his command of the huddle.
"He is the smartest guy I have ever been around, without a doubt," Gruden said. "He can move around and he can handle a lot of different things. We are not in here to build the team around him, the team is built and he has to lead it like right now. This isn't a two- or three-year process. This is a one-year process and we have got to win right away."
And while McCoy is firmly entrenched as Smith's backup, Hogan will have an opportunity to crack the 53-man roster after Washington only carried two quarterbacks last year.
