There have been rumors since back when Colin Kaepernick was made the starter that Alex Smith would be on his way out San Francisco and that appears to be done as the team has traded him to the Kansas City Chiefs.
According to CBSSports.com writer Jason La Canfora on Twitter, the 49ers have finished negotiations with a team to take the quarterback and that appears to be the Kansas City Chiefs. According to the article on Yahoo Sports, the deal is considered "all but done".
Ian Rapoport at NFL.com reported that the Chiefs were the top team interested in the quarterback, but there are still details that need to be finalized. The trade will not be able to go through until the new league year begins on March 12 and it would end any speculation that the Jets would be trading for Smith.
The former number one pick was the starter until suffering a concussion and helped bring the 49ers to the NFC Championship game last season. He had been excellent through the first part of the season and last year he threw for 17 touchdowns passes and five interceptions.
In 2012, Smith had a 104 quarterback rating, but coach Jim Harbaugh loved what he saw from Kaepernick and rode his quarterback all the way to the Super Bowl against the Ravens.
"I think the main thing is Alex is a heck of a football player," Harbaugh said this week at the combine. "Alex is really playing the best football of his career the last two years. And we think we have the best quarterback situation in the National Football League. Feel strongly about that. Again, that'll be a process that plays out. Alex Smith, continuing to be a 49ers or if a trade occurs in the next weeks or months. Those are the two possibilities -- most-likely possibilities."
If the Chiefs complete the trade that means they will likely take Luke Joeckel as the number one pick or someone like Alabama's Chance Warmack. The quarterback position was an issue with the Chiefs and that means Matt Cassel's time is likely done and he will be released.
Smith is set to make $7.5 million plus a $1 million roster bonus with the 49ers if he is still on the roster and he is signed to the 2014 season.
