Chiefs Not Considering Benching Alex Smith For Rookie Patrick Mahomes

Update:

Chiefs HC Andy Reid told reporters that they aren’t considering benching QB Alex Smith despite losing three games in a row and five of their past six contests.

“That’s not where I am at right now,” Reid said, per Adam Teicher of ESPN.com.

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According to Jason La Canfora, the Chiefs are not considering benching veteran QB Alex Smith in favor of first-round pick Patrick Mahomes, despite the team’s recent struggles.

Even so, team sources have told La Canfora that Kansas City is “very bullish” on Mahomes and his ability to take over as the team’s starter as soon as next season. La Canfora adds that there’s a “strong sense” that Mahomes could be a franchise quarterback sooner rather than later.

As for Smith, La Canfora says that the only way he would lose his job would be to injury, so it appears as though this season is all on Smith.

The Chiefs are 1-4 in their past five games, despite a strong and impressive start to the 2017 season.

Numerous GMs that have spoken to La Canfora anticipate the Chiefs shopping Smith during the offseason, as he still has one year remaining on his team-friendly contract. La Canfora tosses out the Jaguars, Cardinals and Broncos are a few teams worth watching for Smith next year.

Smith, 33, is a former first-round pick of the 49ers back in 2005. After seven years in San Francisco, Smith was traded to the Chiefs in 2013.

Smith is in the fourth year of his five-year, $76 million contract that includes $45 million guaranteed and stands to make a base salary of $10.8 million for the 2017 season.

In 2017, Smith has appeared in 10 games for the Chiefs and thrown for 2,674 yards while completing 69.4 percent of his passes to go along with 18 touchdowns and three interceptions. He has also rushed for 200 yards on and a touchdown. Pro Football Focus has him rated as the No. 7 quarterback out of 38 qualifying players.