San Francisco 49ers: Will Alex Smith Be the Starting Quarterback in 2011?

Despite being a free agent in the midst of the NFL lockout, quarterback Alex Smith has been leading 49ers">49ers">San Francisco 49ers' player-organized workouts this offseason. 

Smith, who is set to become a free agent, has still been displaying leadership and the hunger to be the 49ers' starting quarterback in 2011.

However, Smith's free-agent status leaves him in somewhat of a "limbo." But, according to multiple sources, including Tim Kawakami of the Mercury News, Smith could be "destined" to return as a 49er.

While Smith is projected to return to San Francisco, his starting job at quarterback is certainly in jeopardy. With the 36th selection of the 2011 NFL draft, the 49ers drafted quarterback Colin Kaepernick—who could very well be the future of the franchise.

Smith will join Kaepernick in a quarterback competition under first-year head coach Jim Harbaugh. 

The former first overall pick in the 2005 draft, Smith has most definitely been a disappointment, but it isn't all his fault.

Smith has seen head coaches and offensive coordinators come and go, and has yet to spend two complete seasons with any head coach. Without a doubt, that has stunted his development.

During his first five years in the league, Smith has shown signs of being a quality NFL quarterback, but more often than not, he's been inconsistent. 

As of right now, Smith has posted a career passing rating at 72.1 and has only completed 57.1 percent of his passes. As for being inaccurate at times, it translated into only 51 touchdowns and 53 interceptions.

With Harbaugh being hired as the 49ers' new head coach, this is the first time in Smith's career that he's been matched up with a true offensive coach—a quarterback coach for that matter.

As Smith has been leading 49ers player-organized workouts, he's been asked several times why he's doing it and if he believes he'll be back in 2011. Recently, he had this to say, according to Kawakami:

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"I wouldn't be doing it if it wasn't for the relationship there, to be honest with you. For the feeling I got from Harbaugh, the offensive coaching staff, from every time I've been in there, from before the lockout, from when the lockout ended that day and a half...But I have such a good feeling. I feel they've been up front about everything they've told me."

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There have been numerous reports of Smith likely re-signing with the 49ers, and even Harbaugh as spoke with Eric Branch of the Santa Rosa Press Democrat regarding working with Smith in the near future:

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“So excited [to work with Alex Smith], yeah, I’m going to say it, I’ve been studying Alex Smith and watching him and I believe that Alex Smith can be a winning quarterback in the National Football League."

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With Smith likely returning to San Francisco in 2011, he'll have a great chance of winning the starting job in this season's training camp—if there is one for that matter.

Harbaugh and the entire 49ers front office has definitely put a lot of faith and investment in Smith, and believe that he'll be a great quarterback in the near future.

The ball is in Smith's court, and he needs to take advantage of what amazing attributes that Harbaugh can offer—it's his job to lose.

This article was first seen at PatriotsPlus.net. Be sure to follow Tony Santorsa on Twitter @ TonySantorsa.