Kansas City Chiefs quarterback plan is working perfectly

When the Kansas City Chiefs drafted Patrick Mahomes, the plan at quarterback was clear. However, four games in, the results are exceeding expectations.

Listening to sports radio over the past few days, I’ve heard the same question a lot: “How can the Kansas City Chiefs move on from Alex Smith?” That’s something we wouldn’t have expected to hear just a month ago. Hearing it now is a result of incredible play from Smith to start the year. However, the answer is simple…

Because this has been the plan the whole time.

Now don’t get me wrong, I don’t think anyone in the Chiefs organization expected Alex Smith to come out guns blazing like this. However, I don’t think there was ever a doubt from the KC leadership that Smith would play well enough to draw interest in 2018. In fact, I’m convinced that was the plan.

When the Chiefs drafted Patrick Mahomes this year, they made a clear signal as to what the future of the organization was going to be. Alex Smith is essentially playing for his next contract right now, and it is very likely to be with a new team. Kansas City is putting themselves in a position to move on.

Exceeding Expectations

As I said, there was probably no way anyone expected this from Alex Smith. However, getting better results than expected should not change the Kansas City Chiefs plans. In fact, if Alex Smith continues to play at the rate he is now, it should only serve to solidify those plans.

If Kansas City is planning on moving forward from the Alex Smith era after this year, then all that is happening right now is beneficial to that. Every week Smith has a solid, or even great, game, that is added value in an offseason trade for the Chiefs. What we are seeing right now is KC having their cake and eating it too.

Related Story: Kansas City Chiefs: Alex Smith Is The Present And Future

It’s easy to live in the moment and believe keeping Alex Smith is the best move. However, I promise you will change your mind when we start hearing what some of the trade offers are for him. The 2018 quarterback market looks to be one where a lot of teams will be buyers. That puts the Chiefs in a very strong position.

Patrick Mahomes Is The Key To Everything

There is only one reason why the Kansas City Chiefs should keep Alex Smith on the roster in 2018. If Patrick Mahomes has not developed enough to where the team is confident he can be the starter, then you keep Smith for another year. In fact, a (small) contract extension could even be in order.

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However, if Patrick Mahomes is ready to go, or at least ready to get on the field, then that is the move you make. The absolute second Andy Reid tells the Chiefs front office that Mahomes is ready, they need to start taking calls and hearing offers. That is the only decision point that has to be made here.

That’s what the plan is, and we all knew that. The Chiefs invested a lot into getting Patrick Mahomes, and they plan to sell Alex Smith to help recoup some of that investment. The fact that Smith is playing beyond what anyone expected shouldn’t change that…it should only help the situation.

Alex Smith has been great for the Kansas City Chiefs to start the season. If that continues, his trade value is going to be fantastic this offseason. As long as Patrick Mahomes is ready to go, the Chiefs need to pull the trigger and execute their plan. This has the potential to be one of the best all-time moves in NFL history.