Kansas City Chiefs: Arizona could claim Matt Nagy and Alex Smith

Things are already happening fast for the Arizona Cardinals this offseason. With Bruce Arians and Carson Palmer both retired, the Cards could turn to the Kansas City Chiefs for replacements.

While the Kansas City Chiefs are headed to the postseason, most of the NFL is already preparing for 2018. We’re only a few days removed from the end of the 2017 regular season, and the Arizona Cardinals are already looking like a different team. In a matter of days, both Bruce Arians and Carson Palmer have retired. Their replacements? Maybe coming from the Chiefs.

We already know that Kansas City offensive coordinator Matt Nagy is a hot name in the coaching carousel. It’s also a 99.9% sure thing that Alex Smith will not be playing for the Chiefs in 2018. It’s a pairing that would make a ton of sense for the Cardinals to target this offseason.

In a lot of ways, the Cardinals at this moment look very similar to the 2013 Kansas City Chiefs prior to the hiring of Andy Reid. A lot of defensive talent, a strong running game, but an unstable passing game (though for different reasons). There are a lot of pieces there to work with, they just need a solid direction and someone to guide them.

More Substance Than Flash

Despite his performance this year for the Kansas City Chiefs, nobody is going to get thrilled about adding Alex Smith to the roster. However, that changes a little bit when you factor in Matt Nagy. There is no doubt that the Chiefs have gotten more out of Smith with Nagy as the offensive coordinator.

It’s a combination that can bring quite a bit to Arizona without changing the team dynamic. Alex Smith and Matt Nagy have spent the past five years on a team that is built around running the ball and playing tough defense. At the same time, we have seen this pairing take over and make their team more aggressive through the air.

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Ultimately though, the Matt Nagy-Alex Smith connection brings a winning culture with them. That’s something that will definitely attract the Cardinals. With the right leadership and direction, Arizona can be very dangerous in the NFC West.

Changing Perspectives

Of course, Arizona Cardinals fans haven’t been watching that much of the Kansas City Chiefs the past few years. It’s going to be a tough transition for many of them. Matt Nagy is not Bruce Arians. Alex Smith is not Carson Palmer. Any fan expecting the same offensive attack is going to be disappointed.

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The biggest difference will likely be between Alex Smith and Carson Palmer. Despite what we have seen this year, Smith is most comfortable in a short to mid passing game. He wants to get the ball out quick, and he tends to scramble. Carson Palmer is your classic pocket passer who is about as mobile as a slab of concrete.

Matt Nagy will be bringing his own changes as well. Nagy will likely adopt the West Coast Offense he learned under Andy Reid, rather than the almost classical approach of Bruce Arians. Nagy’s offense should play to Alex Smith’s strengths, while also limiting the impact of Arizona’s offensive line struggles.

This really is a pair that could make the Cardinals perennial competitors in the NFC West.

It’s a safe bet that there are going to be some big changes for the Kansas City Chiefs next year. It will definitely be interesting to see how the dominoes fall. The Cardinals are about to make a huge paradigm shift as an organization. It wouldn’t surprise me at all if that change comes in the form of additions from the Chiefs.