Where does Alex Smith rank amongst KC Chiefs quarterbacks?

Alex Smith has retired from the NFL after 16 seasons. Where does he fall when it comes to ranking KC Chiefs quarterbacks? 

Not many would have predicted for Alex Smith to have played for 16 seasons in the NFL after his first few years in the league went so poorly, but that’s what’s happened. After 16 seasons as an NFL starting quarterback (well, for the most part), the former Kansas City Chiefs quarterback is calling it a career.

Smith went No. 1 overall in the 2005 NFL Draft to the 49ers. He struggled to really make much of a splash there due to having a new offensive coordinator nearly every year in San Francisco. When the 49ers drafted Colin Kaepernick in 2011, Smith’s time with the Niners was clearly nearing the end.

The Chiefs happily traded for Smith after they went 2-14 in 2012 and never looked back. Smith went 50-26 as the Chiefs’ quarterback and led the team to the playoffs in all but one of his five seasons at the helm. He might not have been a game-changer at the position, but he made a huge difference for this team and helped get them to where they are today.

Where does Alex Smith rank when it comes to KC Chiefs quarterbacks?

Smith is easily a top-five quarterback in Chiefs history, and if we’re being more specific, a top-four quarterback for the franchise. The other three names are Patrick Mahomes (of course), Len Dawson, and Trent Green.

These four guys are in the top five when it comes to all-time passing yards for the Chiefs with Dawson at No. 1, Green at No. 2, Smith at No. 3, and Mahomes at No. 5. Even though Mahomes is fifth in passing yards, most would probably agree that he’s jumped Smith on the Chiefs quarterback rankings and maybe even Green as well due to winning a Super Bowl and an MVP.

Smith might not have the accolades from his Chiefs career that Mahomes already has, but one could argue that without Smith mentoring Mahomes during his rookie season, we aren’t witnessing one of the greatest talents in NFL history right here in Kansas City. Smith is probably considered the fourth-best quarterback out of these four guys, but his legacy to this organization and this city can’t be understated.

Where would you rank Alex Smith amongst the Kansas City Chiefs’ quarterbacks? Is he No. 4 on your list or would you have him higher than one of the other signal-callers?