Clark Hunt spoke to reporters at the NFL Honors program saying that a Alex Smith trade within the AFC West was likely never, ever going to happen.
The primary concern for any Alex Smith trade was all about the potential return. After all, the Kansas City Chiefs were trading away one of the NFL’s most successful quarterbacks of the previous season with an affordable year still left on his contract. The Chiefs were going to get something good in return, and it was up to general manager Brett Veach to make that happen.
From there, however, it was also somewhat important to make sure that Smith’s future destination couldn’t come back to haunt the Chiefs. That’s why it was an nice bonus that the Chiefs’ veteran ended up traded to the NFC East, about as far away from having to face him as possible. The Chiefs faced the Washington Redskins this year, which means that any sort of Patrick Mahomes vs. Alex Smith showdown would only come in the postseason.
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What would have been an uncomfortable scenario is if Brett Veach’s best option would have included sending Smith to a rival. Clark Hunt, owner of the Kansas City Chiefs, spoke to reporters from the red carpet of the NFL Honors program during Super Bowl weekend and said that was actually not on the table—or at least a very unlikely option. Per Mike Klis of 9 News in Denver:
"“I think it’s pretty typical in the NFL not to seek trades within the division,’’ Hunt said. “That’s pretty standard fare particularly when we’re talking about a high-profile player.’’"
The Denver Broncos are certainly looking for quarterback help and Smith would have been a very nice addition to a team that would fit him well. C.J. Anderson is a nice young running back and the defense is as solid as Smith’s early years in K.C. He’s won many games with that sort of team make-up before, and Denver would be much improved heading into 2018 with Smith at quarterback. As it stands, they’re still searching for some help to a unit that has no great options for a starting role.