Chiefs training camp 2015: Breaking down the roster

Sep 14, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith (11) talks with head coach Andy Reid during the first half against the Denver Broncos at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. The Broncos won 24-17. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

This is pretty cut-and-dry. Alex Smith is going to be the starting quarterback, but he has a ton of work ahead of him before the first preseason game rolls around against the Arizona Cardinals. Smith has to get used to a bevy of new weapons in Jeremy Maclin, Chris Conley and Da’Ron Brown. This is also the first camp he will have with Jason Avant, getting a chance to build chemistry further.

Behind Smith is Chase Daniel, who is in the final year of his contract. Daniel is one of the more expensive backups in the league at a $4 million cap hit, but he is worth that price tag. Why? Because if Smith goes down for a week or two, the Chiefs can survive and win with Daniel at the helm. Daniel is never going to take a team to the Super Bowl, but he has proven his worth over the past couple of years.

The real battle at this position will be for the third spot. Kansas City seems to be locked in with Aaron Murray, but the third spot can always be tenuous. What if Murray simply looks terrible and someone is brought in to beat him out? With Tyler Bray recovering from a torn ACL, it seems highly unlikely that the depth chart will read anything other than Smith, Daniel, Murray … but odder things have happened.

Next: Running backs