Jason Cole of B/R reports that there’s a “growing sense” that the Chiefs may be willing to move on from veteran QB Alex Smith this offseason if they can either sign Tony Romo as a free agent or get into the trade market for Patriots backup QB Jimmy Garoppolo.
According to Cole, there’s a feeling from the Chiefs that they may have reached their ceiling in regards to how far Smith can take them in the playoffs, which is why they could have interest in Romo if they make the decision to move on from Smith as their starter.
The Chiefs continue to be tossed out as a potential landing spot for Romo if/when he’s released by the Cowboys, even though both HC Andy Reid and GM John Dorsey have said Smith is likely to return as their starting quarterback in 2017.
“Alex is our quarterback — there’s no question about that or anything else,” Reid said during Pro Bowl weekend, via the Kansas City Star. “I surely didn’t want to insinuate that (was not the case) at all.”
“The work’s never done — he’ll continue to improve,” Reid said. “There won’t be the huge jumps, but there will be little things he’ll continue to get better at.
“But he’s pretty good right now, though.”
Smith, 32, 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 will be entering 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.
According to OverTheCap.com, releasing Smith would free up $9.7 million of available cap space while creating $7.2 million in dead money. However, the Chiefs can improve those figures to $13.3 million of cap room and just $3.6 million of dead money if they designate him as a post-June 1 release.
In 2016, Smith has thrown for 3,502 yards while completing 67.1 percent of his passes to go along with 15 touchdowns and eight interceptions. Pro Football Focus has him rated as the No. 14 quarterback out of 34 qualifying players.
We’ll have more regarding Smith’s future with the Chiefs as the news is available.
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