After five years as the quarterback of the Kansas City Chiefs, 33-year-old Alex Smith has found a new home. On Jan. 31, the Chiefs dealt Smith to the Washington Redskins in exchange for a third-round pick and cornerback Kendall Fuller. While the trade has been agreed to in principle, it cannot become official until March 14, the start of the new league year.

In previous years, the Redskins spent a lot of money to prevent QB Kirk Cousins from reaching free agency, according to The Arrowhead Addict. This year, Cousins was projected to be an even more expensive asset to the team. As the price tag on Cousins rose, the ’Skins decided to ultimately move in a different direction.

While Smith hasn’t won any championships, he brings the leadership skills that Washington is missing. And Cousins’ feelings on the matter are still unclear. He may not have been interested in coming back to the Redskins because of the other opportunities that lie ahead for him. According to Gregg Rosenthal, writing for the NFL, Cousins’ relationship with his team has become strained, and his potential can be maximized in free agency.

*Photo courtesy of 4UMF via flickr.com*