Decision #1: Starting Quarterback
Even bigger than any looming free agent, player acquisition or franchise tag is the man at the most important position. What is John Dorsey supposed to do about Alex Smith?
Smith came at a cost of two second-round draft picks back in 2013 and 2014, which means the team has significant draft capital invested in Smith already. He was also signed to a 4-year, $68 million contract in 2014, giving him a cap hit of $16.9 million this season. That’s a very manageable number when looking at quarterback averages these days, which means if Smith can be okay as the starter, then the Chiefs should feel good about where they are at.
On the surface, Smith can look just fine. While fans can be brutal at times, the reality is that Smith is not as bad as the average fan makes him out to be. It’s a scapegoating effect in place this offseason, and Smith must realize that as the quarterback, he’s going to receive the lion’s share of fan frustration. However, it’s not as if the fans are delirious when they cry out for a new starter. Smith didn’t look so hot in 2016 compared to the previous season.
From a sudden unwillingness to run the football (and give the offense that extra option for defenses to cover) to his paltry touchdown numbers (15), Smith presents Dorsey with some serious questions. Is he really the quarterback to take the team to the next level? Is this roster really talented enough to win a Super Bowl and, if so, does Smith need to get out of the way to find out?
The saying goes, “Where there’s smoke, there’s fire.” Unfortunately for Smith, everything is ablaze these days. From Tony Romo odds to Jimmy Garoppolo trade rumors to draft projects, the Chiefs are always included in the mix for a new starting quarterback. The best case scenario for Smith is that he gets to start for one more year while a youngster waits in the wings, if you believe the press. On the flip side, Andy Reid has said that Smith is his man, and Dorsey has made his own investments clear.
To lose Smith is to lose your floor, to tell a man who has averaged 10+ wins per season in Kansas City to sit on the bench in favor of someone who does not know the system or players and likely comes with a long list of question marks of his own. In the case of a veteran like Romo, injury issues will creep in. For a rookie, it’s a toss of the dice. While the ceiling could be higher, the floor could also collapse. Therein lies the risk.
Bigger than any safety or defensive tackle, team leader or hot rookie, there’s no bigger decision facing John Dorsey than what to do about his starting quarterback.