Kansas City Chiefs: Patrick Mahomes has a great mentor in Alex Smith
By Ben Almquist
A lot has been made of the situation that Pat Mahomes is coming into with the Kansas City Chiefs. However, his greatest asset may be learning from Alex Smith.
With the Kansas City Chiefs drafting Pat Mahomes in the 2017 NFL Draft, all anyone can talk about is the future. Mahomes comes to a team that can afford to sit him for a year and has some great quarterback coaches. In all the excitement, Alex Smith has become a bit of an afterthought. However, the veteran quarterback may be the best tool for developing Mahomes.
In recent weeks, the team has talked about how they discussed drafting a quarterback with Alex Smith. The intent seems to be to ensure fans and pundits that there is no quarterback controversy in Kansas City. Recently, reporters asked Smith about that. Not only did he confirm those claims, but also showed how he was ready to be a good mentor for Mahomes.
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There really could not be a better quarterback to learn from for Patrick Mahomes. The young gun slinger is known for his huge arm and fearless play style. However, he doesn’t have a lot of experience with complex play calls, making multiple progressions, or taking what is there rather than always taking a chance.
Chiefs QB Alex Smith spoke to the local KC media about the drafting of Patrick Mahomes for the first time Wednesday. pic.twitter.com/KbBNI1nVwI
— Pete Sweeney (@pgsween) May 17, 2017
Those areas of concern are the very things that Alex Smith excels at. Smith is one of the smarter quarterbacks in the NFL. He is also one of the absolute best at taking care of the ball. The Chiefs veteran quarterback is in a unique position to help Patrick Mahomes develop his game to become a more complete player.
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The Chiefs are truly in a unique situation when it comes to their quarterback of the future. Kansas City didn’t “need” a new starting quarterback, at least not to the degree of many other teams. However, KC General Manager John Dorsey still not only drafted one early, but traded up to do so. This is truly a situation we have never seen before.
However, this is something that Alex Smith is vaguely familiar with (as he alludes to). He has worked with a young quarterback taken high in the draft before. Smith saw a similar story play out in San Francisco when the 49ers drafted Colin Kaepernick in the second round of the 2011 NFL Draft. That move would eventually lead to Smith being traded to Kansas City.
Alex Smith tells reporters that he is at a different place in his career than the last time this happened. That shows a level of maturity and understanding that demonstrates just how he can be a great teacher for Mahomes.
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The Kansas City Chiefs have made moves to ensure the team is among the best in the NFL not just now, but for the future as well. Hopefully their plan pays off. The future of football in Kansas City was decided at the 2017 NFL Draft. For better or worse, that is the direction we’re headed in.