Breaking Down the Chiefs Future after Trading Alex Smith

Photo courtesy of David Eulitt, The Kansas City Star/Tribune News Service

The Patrick Mahomes era has begun in Kansas City and I could not be more excited.

Mahomes officially became the starting quarterback for the Chiefs on January 30th when the Chiefs shipped quarterback Alex Smith to the Washington Redskins, in return for third-year cornerback Kendall Fuller and a 2018 third round draft pick.

When I first heard that the Chiefs had made this deal, I was skeptical. It meant that the Chiefs were moving on from the reliable and calculated Smith and handing 2nd year and unproven pro Mahomes the keys to the offense.

Now, I was never the biggest fan of Smith because he was always seemed too cautious and never took enough shots down-field for my liking. However, I do admit that he was a solid quarterback and the best Chiefs QB since Trent Green left in 2005.

But after some time to mull over the trade, I actually believe it was a great move by Chiefs GM Brett Veach. He not only cashed in on Alex Smith’s best statistical year, but positioned Mahomes as the QB of the future, while also adding talented third-year cornerback Kendall Fuller to the struggling Chiefs secondary.

As a Chief, Smith won 50 games and made the playoffs in four of his five seasons. In 2015, he won the Chiefs first playoff game in 22 years. Last season he had the best statistical year of his career throwing for over 4000 passing yards along with 26 touchdowns and only five interceptions.

It will be strange to watch the Chiefs without Smith but Mahomes should serve as a great replacement. Expectations will naturally be very high for Mahomes, but the youngster has the tools to be better than Smith ever was.

Coming out of Texas Tech, Mahomes was labeled a gunslinger with a rocket for an arm. He showed off his arm and potential during his first career start in a Week 17 against the Denver Broncos. During the game, he threw for 284 yards and led the Chiefs on game-winning drive late in the fourth quarter.

Mahomes will bring a new element to the Chiefs offense with his ability to throw the long ball and make big plays downfield, something that Smith struggled with.

In place to help Mahomes ease into the Chiefs offense is head coach Andy Reid, one of the best mentors in all of football.

Reid has the potential to replicate the success that he had years ago with the Eagles, when he molded rookie gunslinger Donovan McNabb into a star and potential Hall of Famer. Together, Reid and McNabb were able to lead the Eagles to their second Super Bowl in 2004. Even though the Eagles lost, Chiefs fans should be hoping that Reid can repeat his magic with Mahomes.

This time around it should be easier for Reid, because Mahomes is inheriting a great core of offensive weapons led by tight end Travis Kelce, running back Kareem Hunt and wideout Tyreek Hill.

This dynamic trio accounted for 67 percent of the 2017 Chiefs offensive yards. Mahomes should be able to rely upon these three from the get-go. The trio will help to ease the pressure on Mahomes and give him confidence in his abilities.

Mahomes, however, is not the only one that will benefit because of the Smith trade. The Chiefs’ defense with their addition of third-year pro Kendall Fuller to the secondary should be something to fear in 2018.

The 2017 Chief’s secondary was riddled with problems. They lost all-NFL safety Eric Berry one week into the season and suspended star corner Marcus Peters in week 14 for team misconduct.

Fuller allowed a league a low 55.0 passer rating when he was guarding the slot receiver in 2017. He was also ranked as the 6th best corner by Pro Football Focus, a site that specializes in detailed football statistics. Fuller has the ability to bring stability to the Chiefs secondary by filling the gap behind established stars Marcus Peters and Eric Berry.

Overall, the Alex Smith trade is one that will be either a smashing success or a miserable failure, and it all hinges on the play of Patrick Mahomes. Mahomes could end up not living up to the hype or he could become a star in Kansas City.

I have been on the Mahomes hype train ever since he led the comeback against Denver. If he can build off of that success then I believe that he and the young exciting Chiefs core can have success in the future.