Alex Smith Confirms Contract Extension Talks

Jan 4, 2014; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith (11) on the sidelines during the second quarter of the 2013 AFC wild card playoff football game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

Alex Smith confirmed he and the Chiefs are in talks about a contract extension with the team, but he doesn’t sound like he’s in a huge rush to get a deal done. He discussed the possibility of an extension yesterday at a press conference.

"My agent handles all of that, and that’s why you hire that guy to take care of that, so you can focus on football. It’s really not my place. I have a contract for this year.…I’ve played long enough, going into year 10 now, it’s all year-to-year in my mind anyway at this point. You’ve got to continually prove yourself. I don’t think it changes anything as far as my mindset or approach to the game."

It wouldn’t be completely stunning to me if the Chiefs worked out a deal with Justin Houston before a deal was reached with Smith. In fact it may be in Smith’s best interest to play out the remainder of his current deal and put up some more career high numbers heading into a free agent year. Either he gets franchised (a huge one-year pay day) or he gets a long-term commitment from someone either in free agency or from the Chiefs.

We’ll get a really good idea of where the Chiefs feel like they stand at quarterback in the draft, especially if one of the top quarterbacks fall to the Chiefs with their 23rd overall pick. Passing on a quarterback and taking another flier like Tyler Bray with a late pick or in undrafted free agency should signal the Chiefs feel confident they’ll be bringing Smith back. Taking a Bridgewater or spending one of their high or mid-round picks on a quarterback adds a lot of uncertainty with Smith.

Building a franchise around Smith in the way New England has done with Tom Brady or Indianapolis is doing with Andrew Luck would not be a smart idea. However, Smith has proven to be a more than capable quarterback in Andy Reid‘s system. His performance in the playoff game against Indianapolis may be one of the best ever by a Chiefs quarterback, and one of the better games by a Kansas City quarterback since Trent Green left town. With the right defense and offensive weapons around him, he’s more than capable of leading a Super Bowl run.

Will that Super Bowl run come in Kansas City is the question.