Niner Noise
FanSided

The biggest question facing each NFL team in 2017

By Peter Panacy

Mar 2, 2017; Indianapolis, IN, USA; San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch speaks to the media during the 2017 combine at Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 2, 2017; Indianapolis, IN, USA; San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch speaks to the media during the 2017 combine at Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 15, 2017; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith (11) walks off the field after the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC Divisional playoff game at Arrowhead Stadium. Pittsburgh won 18-16. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 15, 2017; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith (11) walks off the field after the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC Divisional playoff game at Arrowhead Stadium. Pittsburgh won 18-16. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

Kansas City Chiefs

What will the Chiefs get out of Alex Smith this season?

Alex Smith is a lame-duck quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs. Like it or not, he’s now relegated to being a placeholder for rookie QB Patrick Mahomes, whom the Chiefs moved up to grab in Round 1 of the NFL Draft this year.

We know the monikers and associations given to Smith — he’s a game manager, a player not capable of getting his defense-first team deep into the playoffs.

And at 33 years old, how much longer will Kansas City rely on Smith’s services?

Smith is signed through 2018, and the cap-pressed Chiefs may have to hold onto him through the rest of the contract to avoid paying $3.6 million in dead money a year from now.

But that says nothing about handing over the starting reins to Mahomes.

It won’t happen this season. No, Smith will be the starter barring anything crazy, of course.

Still, Chiefs fans’ frustrations will likely continue to grow until either Mahomes is promoted or Smith can finally get his team the postseason success it has lacked for so long now.