Two decades ago, the San Francisco 49ers selected Utah quarterback Alex Smith with the first overall pick in the 2005 NFL Draft. According to Smith, today’s rookie quarterbacks are much better prepared for the National Football League than those of his era.
In an appearance on the Rich Eisen Show, Smith cited the current college landscape as one reason quarterbacks like Jayden Daniels, C.J. Stroud, and Bo Nix have hit the ground running during their rookie seasons.
Alex Smith on Why Today’s Rookie QBs Are Way More Prepared For NFL
When asked what advice he would give to Tennessee Titans rookie quarterback Cam Ward, Smith remarked, “The expectations haven’t changed, but what has is certainly the college landscape. I don’t think Cam (Ward) needs a ton of advice.”
💻 Alex Smith
We asked the 1st overall pick in the 2005 #NFLDraft what advice he would give to this year’s top pick, @Cameron7Ward:#NFL #NFLDraft #TitanUp pic.twitter.com/QZ0xV7DvzM
— Rich Eisen Show (@RichEisenShow) May 2, 2025
Smith then compared their experiences, pointing out how different their journeys were. “I look at the difference between his experience and mine, again, me being 20 years old coming from the Mountain West to the NFL to the San Francisco 49ers.”
He also discussed how the NFL landscape has evolved, noting that today’s rookie wage scale alleviates some of the pressure on rookie quarterbacks. “Back then, when I signed my contract, I was one of the highest-paid players in the league. There was so much weight that came with all of those expectations,” Smith said.
Alex Smith Cites “College Marketplace” for Rookie Success
While many analysts view the transfer portal negatively, Smith believes it gives players more flexibility, enabling them to develop at their own rate.
“There is a college marketplace now, so these guys stay in college longer. Cam has played at three schools, he has done this before. He has moved to a new place, had high expectations, and delivered. And then done it again,” Smith explained.
He added, “He’s basically been a professional athlete at the collegiate level. I just think he’s far more prepared, he’s had a bigger college career, he’s more comfortable with who he is and his game.”
Smith makes an excellent point here, pointing out that the “college marketplace” gives quarterbacks ultimate flexibility with their future. Ward is a perfect example of this.
After initially declaring for the 2024 NFL Draft, Ward withdrew and entered the transfer portal instead. He eventually found a new home in Miami, boosting his draft stock from a projected mid-to-late round pick to the top quarterback in the 2025 draft class. What a difference a year can make.