The Kansas City Chiefs were the team rumored to be involved in a trade with the San Francisco 49ers for quarterback Alex Smith and now that deal has been confirmed by both ESPN and FOX Sports.
According to sources that spoke to ESPN.com, the Chiefs have acquired the former number one overall pick for two draft picks, including the number 34 overall pick in the 2013 draft and another conditional mid-round pick in 2014, giving the 49ers 15 total picks in the upcoming NFL draft in April.
Since the Chiefs have acquired Smith, the team is likely to release former starter Matt Cassel, according to league sources that spoke to ESPN.com. Cassel was originally brought over to the team in a trade like Smith and later signed a six-year, $63 million contract after that trade with the Patriots in 2009. Cassel still has two years left on his contract and he was a disappointment over the past few years, resulting in his benching for Brady Quinn during the season.
Over the past two years, Smith has been a more productive quarterback on his own than the four players that have started for the Chiefs in Matt Cassel, Kyle Orton, Brady Quinn and Tyler Palko. According to ESPN Stats & Information, Smith has gone 19-5-1 over the past two seasons, while the Chiefs quarterbacks have gone 9-23.
Smith has been one of the most accurate quarterbacks in the NFL over the past two years, completing over 64 percent of his passes and throwing 30 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. In comparison to the Chiefs quarterbacks, Smith has been a revelation. Kansas City has received 21 touchdowns and 38 interceptions from the four quarterbacks with a completion percentage below 58 percent.
Smith became expendable in San Francisco after getting a concussion and coach Jim Harbaugh brought in Colin Kaepernick, who led the team to the Super Bowl after taking over. Smith will be playing on his original contract that will pay him $8.5 million in 2013, although there is a chance he could sign an extension like Cassel did when he was traded to the Chiefs originally.
49ers left tackle Joe Staley said in a text to ESPN NFL Insider Ed Werder that he was happy that one of his best friends on the team will now be able to play on the Chiefs.
"I am happy he is going to get a shot to play somewhere. He is too talented not to. Will miss him on our squad but will still be close wherever he goes. Happy for his new opportunity," he wrote in the text.
The trade will not become officials until the league year begins on March 12 and now gives the Chiefs a solid quarterback heading into 2013. The team has the number one pick in the NFL draft and now will likely pick and offensive lineman rather than a quarterback, which was expected before the trade.
Smith was originally taken number one overall in the 2005 draft, but was replaced by Kaepernick, who starred for the team while he was out with a concussion. Prior to his injury, Smith was one of the most accurate quarterbacks in the NFL, completing 26 of his last 28 passes, including 18-of-19 for 232 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions in a "Monday Night Football" win at Arizona on Oct. 29.
The Chiefs have a new coach in Andy Reid that likes to throw the ball and now they have a quarterback who has amassed 14,280 yards with 81 touchdowns and 63 interceptions in 80 career games.
