In an interview with the Associated Press today, Steve Smith said that he wants to play “3 or 4 more years” before retiring. This is very consistent with the contract he just signed, so it makes sense. Smith is signed through the 2015 season, 4 seasons from now, for a total of 37.75 million. Smith had a major bounce back season in 2011, catching 79 passes for 1394 yards and 7 touchdowns, after just 46 catches for 554 yards and 2 touchdowns in 2010.

However, his age, 33, is a major issue. If you take a look at the 11 receivers who have played in the last decade and rank in the top 20 all time in receiving, you’d see that even the average top 20 all-time receiver has his last 1000 yard season at age 34-35, averages 48 catches for 594 yards and 3 touchdowns for 2 more seasons after age 34-35, and is done playing by age 36-37. Smith currently ranks 32^nd on this list, but will likely finish top-20. The point is that Smith would have to defy a lot of history to continue to be a #1 receiver for more than 2 years.

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