Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes started out with a W on his NFL resume which left Kansas City fans excited and hopeful for the future.
It turns out that Mahomes’ performance impressed members of the team he defeated as well. After the game, Broncos linebacker Von Miller and cornerback Aqib Talib both praised Mahomes.
“He came out and made some great throws,” Miller said about Mahomes, via Pete Sweeney of Arrowhead Pride. “He’s a rookie, still, and got out there and played lights out. We had some ones out there and he still came through and played. Hats off to Mahomes.
“He’s going to be the quarterback of the future. He’s going to be a great quarterback. He has great scramble ability. He can scramble and throw the ball. He’s going to be a great quarterback.”
Miller’s quotes seemed to acknowledge Mahomes’ bright future in K.C., but Talib’s were more eyebrow-raising. Talib believes that Mahomes has the ability to take over for the Chiefs as soon as next season.
“I saw enough of Patrick Mahomes to think Alex Smith is going to be a free agent next year,” Talib said on the Vic Lombardi Show, via Joel Thorman of Arrowhead Pride. “That guy can play some ball, Vic. That guy can play some ball. He’s smart. I saw him checking protections, I saw him reading the defense. We know how strong his arm is. The guy is a competitor. I think Alex Smith, he definitely might be on the market this year.
“The guy (Mahomes) got an AK-47 for an arm. He can throw it wherever he wants. It doesn’t matter if he’s running left or right. He’s got a gun for an arm and it shows on the field.”
Mahomes definitely played well enough to warrant discussion about the Chiefs’ starting quarterback next season, although Smith technically won’t be a free agent during the 2018 offseason. He’s under contract for one more year and is due $20.6 million in 2018.
Of course, the Chiefs could release Smith and save $17 million, but cutting a veteran QB coming off the best season of his career doesn’t seem like the smartest idea, nor does it seem likely. Trading Smith would be a much more plausible option for K.C. in order to get a return.
The Chiefs gave up two second-round picks for Smith in 2013 so it wouldn’t be far-fetched for him to bring similar value again in 2018. That discussion should be saved for February though as the Chiefs are still trying to make a run in the playoffs.
