Chiefs rumors: Andy Reid says Alex Smith ‘getting older’
By Bryan Holmes
The Kansas City Chiefs traded up to No. 10 overall in the NFL Draft to take Texas Tech quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
In acquiring Mahomes, the Chiefs gave up pick Nos. 27 and 91 while also surrendering their 2018 first-round draft pick.
Despite the large haul that Kansas City gave up getting Mahomes, head coach Andy Reid insists that current quarterback Alex Smith is the signal caller for 2017. Reid also has confidence that Smith can lead the Chiefs to the Super Bowl as soon as 2018.
However, Reid is realistic with the situation that is at hand with Smith. Regardless of having confidence in Smith as a quarterback, Reid understands that nobody can beat father time. Per PFT:
"“We have complete confidence in Alex Smith, we love Alex Smith here, and we love the things that he’s done and will continue to do for us. That’s not an issue. The only issue is that we’re all getting a little older. Unfortunately, this happens in life, and Alex is getting up there at 32, and you’ve got to start thinking of — not that it’s happening right now — but you’ve got to think a little bit about the future there. Particularly at that position, you have to do that.”"
While age is not the only thing that plays a factor in deciding to move on from a quarterback — especially when it looks like Tom Brady is going to be playing till he is 100 — Reid is right to look at the totality of the conditions.
Let’s face it, even in his prime Smith was never an elite quarterback. So what would make people think that as Smith ages, he is going to get much better? Compounded by the aspect that what makes Smith effective sometimes is his ability to make plays outside of the pocket. Mobility is something that is almost certainly going to diminish with age.
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Smith will get a chance with another team when the Chiefs decide to move on from him because he is better than most quarterbacks in the NFL. However, the Chiefs are also better than most teams in the NFL and if they feel that they are going to be better suited in the coming future with a younger quarterback, than that’s their prerogative.