Months of comments from Kansas City Chiefs' personnel affirm Alex Smith as the starter, but they're still looking for a backup as the offseason progresses.
With the Kansas City Chiefs declining Nick Foles' option in March, the team is without a backup quarterback. There are several options out there who may compete to be the future of the franchise. Alex Smith will get more and more expensive each year and the Chiefs already know what he brings to the table. While not unreasonable to think that Smith will still progress in the offense, becoming an MVP in his 13th year in the league is all but impossible.
The Chiefs need a future at the position to secure that a very talented roster continues to win games. The 2012 season is a perfect example of what complete instability at the quarterback position does to a talented roster. While there doesn't appear to be a Day 1 starter in the 2017 NFL Draft, there are quarterbacks who can sit and learn. There are also a few young backups ready to sign contracts should the Chiefs look to the draft next season.
Here are five guys the Chiefs should consider grabbing before workouts begin in May.
Patrick Mahomes – NFL Draft
Let's get this one out of the way early. Mahomes is very popular in Kansas City even though his game film is uneven at best. Arrowhead Addict's Stacy D. Smith has a great breakdown of 10 games which feature Mahomes' strengths and weaknesses. Basically, he is a very raw talent. He has a very strong arm and solid athleticism. He also sells on play-fakes very well and runs a good read-option. Those tools are necessary for an Andy Reid quarterback.
His weaknesses, however, show just why he is projected as a second-round quarterback. His mechanics are all over the place and instead he relies on his arm and athleticism. This causes his throws to be inaccurate at times. Learning how to be accurate on short and mid-range throws could not have a better teacher than Smith.
Sitting for one or two years would provide Mahomes with the maturity and education needed to perform at an NFL level. What should worry fans is the history of the Chiefs and drafting quarterbacks. It isn't an exact science, but the Chiefs need to take the risk if they want to find success for years to come.
Oct 1, 2016; Berkeley, CA, USA; California Golden Bears quarterback Davis Webb (7) passes against the Utah Utes in the first quarter at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports
Davis Webb – NFL Draft
Reports have surfaced that Webb has met with the Chiefs already ahead of the 2017 draft. He is ranked lower on many draft boards than Mahomes, though his footwork and accuracy can be definitively better on a consistent basis. He looks like your prototypical NFL quarterback and plays in the system that produced the No. 1 overall pick in 2016. That can also be part of his problem.
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Last season, the Rams picked up fellow Cal quarterback Jared Goff to be their future at the position. It didn't go so well. The air-raid offense calls for virtually no reads, but rather predetermined targets. Webb also gets very inaccurate beyond 20 yards, which isn't all that unfamiliar to Chiefs fans. He fits Reid's system, but needs a lot of growth to be a viable starter. Webb could grow behind a similar styled quarterback in Alex Smith. He could also be a placeholder at backup should the Chiefs draft a better option.
DeShone Kizer – NFL Draft
Quarterbacks in this draft are all over the map. There aren't a ton of quarterback-needy teams in the second half of the first round and this class is not good enough to draft in the top of the round. That tends to ease the market a little bit, allowing guys like Kizer to slip late into the first round. If Kizer falls that far, then don't be surprised if the Chiefs pick him up. Kansas City would actually be the perfect fit as his talent is off the charts, but he needs a little more time to develop.
Kizer can make any throw look effortless and his footwork is consistent and strong. What he may lack is the ability to read defenses at NFL speed. This can lead to interceptions and sacks when he has plenty of time in the pocket. While pocket presence is something he may not learn well from Smith, reading defenses is something at which Smith excels. Kizer can develop into a star at the position as long as he is given a chance to sit for at least one season.
Dec 24, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Robert Griffin III (10) during the first half at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Robert Griffin III – Free Agent
This is where fans will think I have gone insane, but the Chiefs aren't looking for a starter. They have their starter in Alex Smith and he has shown that competition can push him to be a better player. Robert Griffin III is not the quarterback he once was, but without any other offers, he should be patient enough to accept a backup role. Andy Reid could be the one that finally convinces him to stay in the pocket and protect himself. He shouldn't get too much time on the field any way. But if he does, he can still make the throws to guys like Travis Kelce and Tyreek Hill.
Griffin would not have a real legitimate shot at starting for the Chiefs, but he is still talented enough to push Smith. As a backup, the Chiefs could rely on him to get the job done in the one game that Smith is virtually guaranteed to miss. As long as he is willing to stay in the pocket, he should be able to stay healthy. The Chiefs could be the only shot Griffin has to be on a winner.
Blaine Gabbert – Free Agent
Yet another guaranteed backup, Gabbert has experience as a starter, but not the talent. He did lead San Francisco to a few wins in his time there and showed that he is a capable and athletic quarterback. Unfortunately his consistency is severely lacking and his decision-making is perplexing. He won't push Alex Smith as much as Griffin would, but he would provide reliability as a backup.
Gabbert would also come fairly cheap as he has had virtually no interest thus far on the market and would be joining his third team. He opened this past season with five starts that basically cemented his backup status. At the end of the year, his interception total exceeded his touchdown total for the second time in his career. The upside to Gabbert is that he can perform well with better talent around him. Not much will be expected, but a one-year deal would not hurt either side.
