Alex Smith and why the 49ers should have kept him. (NFL)

In his seven seasons as a San Francisco 49er, Alex Smith had some good years, and some bad years. He had some amazing numbers in some games, and sat out others with injuries, one of them leading to his trade to the Kansas City Chiefs. At the time, it might have seemed like a good idea to trade Smith and go with the more flamboyant Colin Kaepernick, who had led them to a Super Bowl appearance, losing the game eventually.

I am of the opinion that after said Super Bowl loss, the team should have built itself more around Smith, acquiring even more weapons and bolstering the defence further. Consider this: The 49ers had one of the best rosters they had been able to field in recent years, having the likes of Vernon Davis, Frank Gore, Michael Crabtree, Aldon Smith, and Navorro Bowman, just to name a few. The smart thing would have been to get even more star players and stand outs, and take the team to the next level.

Instead, the team focused on Kaepernick, who was soon figured out by opposing teams and exposed as the one-dimensional player he was. This was of course, a while before he became a travelling sideshow. Smith on the other hand, continues to have a stellar career, putting up great numbers with the Chiefs before being traded in the off-season to a struggling Washington Redskins team. Who was at fault for Smith's departure from San Francisco? Was it Jim Harbaugh? Was it the front office? Was it ownership, who seemed to be more obsessed with money that championships? Who knows. One thing is for sure, however: Alex Smith would have won the Niners a Super Bowl or two.