As West Virginia quarterback Geno Smith prepares to visit the Chiefs with hope that the team holding the first overall pick is “legitimately interested” in him, the local newspaper has made the case in extensive fashion for Alex Smith being the right fit for new coach Andy Reid’s system.
Extensively quoting Trent Dilfer and Herm Edwards of ESPN, Adam Teicher of the Kansas City Star explains that Alex Smith is the answer, reasoning that the trade for the first overall pick in the 2005 draft means that the Chiefs “obviously felt more strongly” about Alex Smith than Geno Smith.
So why are the Chiefs reportedly “fascinated” with Geno Smith if Alex Smith is the answer? The preference for Alex Smith makes any flirtation with Geno Smith an obvious effort to entice someone else to trade up to the top spot in the draft, allowing the Chiefs to slide back a few spots, perhaps getting the same guy they would have taken at No. 1 and definitely acquiring other picks that can help the Chiefs improve quickly.
Improving quickly provides the Chiefs the biggest reason to not take Geno Smith. With this year’s second-round pick and next year’s third-round (and possibly second-round) selection already devoted to the Alex Smith trade, the Chiefs need to use this year’s first-round pick on a player who will help them get better now, not later.
In today’s NFL, coaches rarely have the luxury to wait until later to make a team better.