NFL Trade Deadline: Will the Chiefs be players?

Dec 7, 2014; Glendale, AZ, USA; Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Sean Smith (21) celebrates a play with safety Ron Parker (38) against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium. The Cardinals defeated the Chiefs 17-14. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Sean Smith (Patriots, Bills, Giants, Colts, and Steelers):  This could be a big move, especially if the Chiefs can get a playoff contender to bite.  There are a lot of teams that appear playoff bound that will need to fortify their secondaries.  That bumps Smith’s value up a great deal in the trade market.  The Chiefs are unlikely to re-sign Smith after this season, so if the season is deemed “over”, getting value for him now would be a huge move in terms of offseason strategy.

Smith’s value could probably be around a third round pick.  While that might not sound like a lot, it really is given his contract situation.  With Marcus Peters, Phillip Gaines, and Steven Nelson on board, the Chiefs have the basis of their future secondary.  Re-signing Sean Smith, though popular with many fans, would be a large investment of resources in an area that should not need it.

My verdict:  If the season is “over”, the Chiefs have to put Smith on the block.  But don’t accept any offer that wouldn’t match the potential comp pick the Chiefs are looking at in 2017.

Chase Daniel (Jets, Redskins, Bills, and Rams):  File this one as a move I believe the Chiefs should make regardless of whether they are “selling” or not.  There are several teams right now that could definitely be looking for some short-term quarterback help.  Chase Daniel could be a “bridge” quarterback for a team dealing with injuries, or a reliable backup for a team with a young or inconsistent starter.  That can be a huge deal for teams that are in the playoff mix.

Daniel probably wouldn’t go for more than a fifth round pick, but that’s good value from a guy that you are actually hoping to replace anyways.  The Chiefs have Aaron Murray as the inactive third quarterback, and it is about time he gets put into a position where he is more than a trivia question.  I really see no downside to this trade at all.  If the Chiefs lose Alex Smith, I have no confidence in the ability of Chase Daniel to get us to the playoffs, so make the deal.

My verdict: For those who haven’t figured it out…I say DO IT!!!

There are certainly a number of other trade options out there, but these are the ones that I see as being the best combination of possible and valuable.  And while the trade deadline usually comes and goes without much fan fare, it would be a mistake to think that John Dorsey won’t at least be on his phone for most of the next 24 hours.