Alex Smith understands why the Kansas City Chiefs made the bold decision to trade Tyreek Hill to the Dolphins but he doesn’t think they can replace him.
Having played with Tyreek Hill for two years, former Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith knows exactly what Kansas City gave up when they shipped the wide receiver to Miami for a slew of draft picks.
Hill had his first 1,000-yard receiving season with Smith throwing him the ball in 2017 after breaking through with six touchdowns as a rookie.
Smith’s perspective on the trade sounds vaguely skeptical about the idea as a result.
Alex Smith on the Chiefs Tyreek Hill trade: “You’re not going to replace him”
“Flat out, you’re not going to replace him,” Smith said on the Rich Eisen show. “There is literally only one Tyreek Hill in the whole NFL. He is that kind of difference-maker. 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.”
Smith believes the Chiefs will be a less dynamic offense without Hill, who he credits with being fast but also not one-dimensional. He can make plays with the ball in his hands or stretch the field as a deep ball threat. His special teams impact will also be lost.
“He’s an incredible weapon, incredibly unique and you’re just not gonna fill those shoes,” Smith said.
Kansas City has already begun trying to fill the hole left by Hill by signing JuJu Smith-Schuster and Marquez Valdes-Scantling in free agency. However, Smith thinks the trade will have to be truly offset by investing and upgrading on defense.
“This is the trade off that I think Andy is thinking about and Brett Veach,” Smith said. “For the salary that they were potentially going to get him and the drafts picks that they got in return, can they go be better on the defensive side of the ball?”
Andy Reid and Brett Veach will have to answer that very question this season without Hill.