2017 NFL mock draft: Quarterback or bust
By John McCarty
The 2017 NFL Draft is going to produce some quarterbacks, and the Kansas City Chiefs should be going all-out to land one.
Regardless of what happens for the rest of the season, this next statement has never been more true in years. The greatest need, greatest priority the Chiefs have this offseason, and namely in the upcoming 2017 NFL Draft is the position of quarterback. No position appears on the radar as a close second. What this organization does addressing the position this offseason will have ramifications for years to come.
Thankfully, the Chiefs are in a position with few if any true immediate needs. As was mentioned last week, the two big free agents, safety Eric Berry and defensive tackle Dontari Poe, play positions the Chiefs have at least added depth at in the previous draft and have depth across the board. Truly, quarterback is perhaps the only position on the team that’s future is so unknown and so vital.
Why and how are we here? After this season, the organization will have to make a decision to either keep Alex Smith or to keep Nick Foles. It’s rather difficult to imagine the Chiefs keeping Foles, releasing him to create cap room for 2017. Depth chart would read the names of Alex Smith and Tyler Bray. Obviously, that isn’t a good situation.
Next, while Alex Smith will still have two years remaining on his contract after this season with a total of $37.5 million to be paid. However, and this is where things get tricky, is that Smith only has $7.2 million in total guarantees left. To stop or dissuade the Chiefs from addressing the quarterback position and thus placing Smith’s job in jeopardy, Smith’s representatives will seek a new contract.