Locked on Chiefs – What will 2017 KC QB group look like?

Changes are likely to come to the Chiefs quarterback group and it’s not just about Alex Smith.

The number of scenarios for the Chiefs quarterback depth chart is growing. It has been altered by the rumors of the Chiefs possible interest in Tony Romo, currently with the Dallas Cowboys.

Whether via trade or free agency, acquiring Tony Romo would guarantee the team moving on from Alex Smith. The contracts of the two veterans are just too large to coexist on the Chiefs roster especially given the current cap situation. It makes Tony Romo in Kansas City a long shot. Not only would the team have to acquire via trade or sign via free agency the veteran quarterback to a sizable contract but it would require addressing Alex Smith in the process.

The team would have to accomplish one of two very difficult tasks. One, they could find a trade partner willing to pay out Alex Smith’s current contract to its conclusion. Smith’s currently scheduled to make $16.9 million in 2017. For option two, they would have to release Smith and eat $7.2 million in dead money. Neither of these scenarios will be palatable to the Chiefs organization and make this possibility very remote.

The lingering question is who will be the Chiefs backup quarterback in 2017. Nick Foles contract present savings of $6.75 million dollars against the cap and will likely make him a casualty.

That leaves only Tyler Bray as the Chiefs remaining current option for a backup. Some would like to see Bray get promoted to the #2 spot and get some valuable experience in the preseason.

With the combine set to begin soon, the team can explore drafting a young quarterback to then develop as the quarterback of the future. Finding the right player to develop will be a challenge in this quarterback draft class. While examining the draft class, other deals can be worked out. The combine is a common place for communication and deal-making. With its conclusion, we may have a better idea of what will happen with the Chiefs quarterbacks.

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Locked on Chiefs is a daily podcast show that drills down to the bottom line and will give you a 360-degree view of the Kansas City Chiefs. Take a few minutes to hear about your Chiefs each day. We’ll cover the offseason, the draft and all the way to the Super Bowl and want to cover the topics you want to hear about. So reach out to us on twitter @LockedOnChiefs with questions and for up to the minute analysis and episode information.

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