Report: Cardinals to express interest in Alex Smith

Feb 27, 2013, 1:18 AM | Updated: 3:44 pm

Arizona Sports

Will the Arizona Cardinals be able to find their next quarterback by way of a division rival?

That’s apparently what they want to find out.

According to NFL.com insider Ian Rapoport, the team “will express interest in a possible trade” for San Francisco 49ers QB Alex Smith. However, as Rapoport notes, the Cardinals are “VERY pessimistic” that the 49ers will trade with a division rival.

They have good reason to be, as out of the 25 trades made in 2012, not one was between division rivals.

Smith, who was supplanted by Colin Kaepernick during the 2012 season, has been a rumored trade candidate ever since. A 28-year-old who really came into his own the last two seasons, Smith completed better than 70 percent of his passes for 1,737 yards and 13 touchdowns last season while being intercepted just five times. He had a QB rating of 104.1.

His best game was against the Cardinals in Glendale, when he completed 18-of-19 passes for 232 yards and three touchdowns in a 24-3 Monday night win.

Follow @theAdamGreen

San Francisco 49ers' Allen Rossum (20) runs back the opening kickoff for a touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals during the first quarter of an NFL football game Monday, Nov. 10, 2008, in Glendale, Ariz. At left is Cardinals' Jerheme Urban. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Arizona Cardinals' Karlos Dansby, right, gets his hands on San Francisco 49ers quarterback Shaun Hill (13) during the second quarter of an NFL football game Monday, Nov. 10, 2008 in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner (13) scrambles as San Francisco 49ers' Justin Smith (94) hurries him during the second quarter of an NFL football game Monday, Nov. 10, 2008, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Arizona Cardinals' Anquan Boldin (81) scores a touchdown as San Francisco 49ers' Walt Harris (27) and Tarell Brown, right, defend during the second quarter of an NFL football game Monday, Nov. 10, 2008, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

San Francisco 49ers' Josh Morgan (84) and Bryant Johnson, right, celebrate Morgan's touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals during the second quarter of an NFL football game Monday, Nov. 10, 2008, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Paul Connors)

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Shaun Hill throws against the Arizona Cardinals during the first quarter of an NFL football game Monday, Nov. 10, 2008, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

San Francisco 49ers' Allen Rossum runs back the game-opening kickoff for a touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals during the first quarter of an NFL football game Monday, Nov. 10, 2008, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Jason Babyak)

San Francisco 49ers' Allen Rossum, left, celebrates with Michael Robinson (24) after Rossum scored on the game-opening kickoff against the Arizona Cardinals in an NFL football game Monday, Nov. 10, 2008, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Jason Babyak)

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner looks to throw against the San Francisco 49ers during the first quarter of an NFL football game Monday, Nov. 10, 2008, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Arizona Cardinals running back Tim Hightower (34) picks up yards as San Francisco 49ers' Walt Harris grabs his jersey during the first quarter of an NFL football game Monday, Nov. 10, 2008, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Arizona Cardinals' Karlos Dansby (58) returns an interception on a pass intended for San Francisco 49ers' Jason Hill, back left, in the fourth quarter of an NFL football game Monday, Nov. 10, 2008 in Glendale, Ariz. The Cardinals defeated the 49ers 29-24. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

San Francisco 49ers' Shaun Hill, right, gets his arm hit by Arizona Cardinals' Clark Haggans and throws an interception in the fourth quarter of an NFL football game Monday, Nov. 10, 2008 in Glendale, Ariz. The Cardinals defeated the 49ers 29-24. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

San Francisco 49ers' Shaun Hill, left, gets his fumble recovered by Arizona Cardinals' Clark Haggans (53) as 49ers' David Baas (64) arrives late to help in the third quarter of an NFL football game Monday, Nov. 10, 2008 in Glendale, Ariz. The Cardinals defeated the 49ers 29-24. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

San Francisco 49ers runningback Frank Gore falls just shy of the end zone against the Arizona Cardinals during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game Monday, Nov. 10, 2008 in Glendale, Ariz. The Cardinals won 29-24.(AP Photo/Matt York)

San Francisco 49ers' quarterback Shaun Hill (13) speaks with line judge John Hussey (35) against the Arizona Cardinals during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game Monday, Nov. 10, 2008 in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Jason Babyak)

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Shaun Hill (13) watches from his knees after throwing an interception against the Arizona Cardinals during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game Monday, Nov. 10, 2008 in Glendale, Ariz. At rear is Cardinals' Ralph Brown. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Arizona Cardinals' Darnell Dockett (90) forces San Francisco 49ers quarterback Shaun Hill to fumble during the third quarter of an NFL football game Monday, Nov. 10, 2008, in Glendale, Ariz. The Cardinals recovered the ball. (AP Photo/Matt York)

San Francisco 49ers runningback Michael Robinson , right, is stopped at the goal line by Arizona Cardinals' Clark Haggans (53) Darnell Dockett (90), and Karlos Dansby, center, during the final quarter of an NFL football game Monday, Nov. 10, 2008 in Glendale, Ariz. The Cardinals won 29-24.(AP Photo/Paul Connors)

The San Francisco 49ers are stopped by the Arizona Cardinals defensive line during final play of an NFL football game Monday, Nov. 10, 2008 in Glendale, Ariz. The Cardinals won 29-24.(AP Photo/Paul Connors)

Comments

Comment guidelines: No name-calling, personal attacks, profanity, or insults. Please keep the conversation civil and help us moderate comments by reporting abuse.