Last year, when Alex Smith was an unrestricted free agent, the Chiefs didn’t make a play for him. This year, they opted to send the 34th overall pick in the draft and a conditional selection in 2014 to San Francisco in order to secure the final two years of his contract.
So what does this all mean? Let’s break it down.
First, it means that coach Andy Reid concluded during his time to date on the job that Matt Cassel, Brady Quinn, and Ricky Stanzi aren’t the answer. (When Reid was on PFT Live last month, he left the door open regarding the possibility of giving the job to one of the men on the roster.)
Second, it means that the Chiefs didn’t like any of the available free-agent options in 2013. If they did, they would have signed a guy and in turn kept their picks.
Third, it means that there was no one else they wanted to acquire via trade with a lesser package of picks.
Fourth, and finally, it means that the Chiefs not only decided that no incoming rookie quarterback justifies selection with their first-round pick but also that no incoming rookie quarterback justifies selection with their second-round pick.
Regardless, then, of how well Smith plays (or doesn’t) for the Chiefs, the deal means that the Chiefs have considered giving up a second-round pick and another pick in the future for the 49ers’ No. 2 quarterback to be a better option than any other option that was available to the team.
Which means, frankly, that the Chiefs really didn’t believe they had any other options.