The Kansas City Chiefs have known for two weeks that they have a new starting quarterback, but their trade with the San Francisco 49ers for Alex Smith could not be officially completed until the league year began and on Tuesday the two sides made it official.
According to ESPN.com, the Chiefs and 49ers made their deal official on Tuesday, which marked the start of the league year and the first day of the free agent signing period. The trade was agreed on two weeks ago and went through with Smith still needing to pass a physical. The Chiefs acquired Smith for a second round pick in April s draft along with a conditional pick for next year, according to the report.
Both the Chiefs and 49ers were active in other deals on earlier in the week and on Monday and Tuesday, with Kansas City signing Dwayne Bowe to a five-year deal and San Francisco trading a sixth round pick to Baltimore for Anquan Boldin. The Chiefs also used their franchise tag on Branden Albert and signed punter Dustin Colquitt to a five-year contract.
"Part of this movement was from a philosophical belief that has been ingrained in me," Dorsey told AP in an interview last week. "Winning organizations do moves like this."
Smith is currently under his old 49ers deal and will make $8.5 million this season unless the Chiefs try to sign him to an extension. The Chiefs also added Dunta Robinson and released a number of veteran players, including Kevin Boss, Eric Winston and Steve Breaston and it is likely they will cut quarterback Matt Cassel soon, as the team signed Chase Daniel on Tuesday.
Cassel was a disappointment in Kansas City since being traded from the Patriots, leading the team to one playoff appearance and going 1-7 last season. Cassel signed a large six-year, $63 million contract, but never played up to that standard, throwing twice as many interceptions as touchdowns last year. Smith has won 19 games over the past two seasons, while the Chiefs have only won nine between four quarterbacks.
Smith was a former number one overall pick and resurrected his career under Jim Harbaugh, taking the 49ers ot the NFC championship game last year before starting 6-2 this season before getting a concussion. He was replaced by Colin Kaepernick, who led the team to the Super Bowl.
The Chiefs have been looking for an upgrade from Cassel and Brady Quinn and Smith marks a new beginning for the franchise under new head coach Andy Reid, who can now use the number one pick on a lineman like Luke Joeckel or Eric Fisher rather than a quarterback.
The Chiefs also added some more offensive weapons, bringing in tight end Anthony Fasano from the Dolphins. Fasano could start alongside Tony Moeaki after making 41 receptions for 332 yards and five touchdowns last season.
