The Kansas City Chiefs were in need of a quarterback after getting subpar play last season, which is one reason why they were expected to select someone like Geno Smith or Matt Barkley with number one overall pick in the upcoming NFL draft.
Now that the Chiefs have acquired Alex Smith from the San Francisco 49ers, the top of the draft will not look very different, as the team will likely not select a quarterback with that pick. The Chiefs went just 2-14 last season so they have a number of areas they need to improve, but all signs point to the team selecting an offensive lineman.
Texas A&M offensive lineman Luke Joeckel is considered to be one of the top players in the draft and now that Smith has been traded for, he is the presumptive number one pick to the Chiefs. The trade also affects West Virginia quarterback Geno Smith, who emerged from the combine as the likely first quarterback taken in the draft.
With Alex Smith now on the Chiefs, there is a good chance Geno Smith will be selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars, Cleveland Browns or another team in the top 10. Although the trade for Smith becomes official March 12, it has been confirmed by both ESPN and FOX Sports.
The trade immediately had people comparing Smith and former starter Matt Cassel, who was traded from the Patriots to the Chiefs in 2009. After leading the Chiefs to a division title, Cassel was a disappointment, going just 29-33 over his time with Kansas City. Smith was the started in San Francisco before suffering a concussion, giving way to Colin Kaepernick, who made seven starts in the regular season and three playoff games before losing to the Baltimore Ravens in the Super Bowl.
Between 2008 and 2012, Smith has had less touchdowns and yards than Cassel, but he has a higher completion percentage and fewer interceptions, throwing 32 to Cassel's 55. This past season the two quarterbacks played in a similar amount of games, with Smith going 6-2-1 before getting injured, while Cassel went 1-7 before being benched.
Smith passed for 1,737 yards and 13 touchdowns with just five interceptions while completing over 70 percent of his passes, while Cassel threw for 1,796 yards and six touchdowns with 12 interceptions. The Chiefs will immediately have an upgrade at quarterback and Smith will combine with running back Jamaal Charles to have one of the most productive backfields in the NFL.
New head coach Andy Reid likes to throw the ball and he will happy with how smith protects the ball and limits turnovers compared to Cassel. The Chiefs will likely release Cassel since his contract will not be favorable for a trade. He could end up with the Cleveland Browns or Arizona Cardinals after being released and could find success in a new situation after a few rough years in Kansas City.
