We can now pretty much throw out any idea of rookie Patrick Mahomes unseating Alex Smith as the Kansas City Chiefs’ starting quarterback this season.
In talking to the media this weekend, Chiefs general manager Brett Veach did not mince words about the team’s quarterback situation heading into Thursday’s Week 1 opener against the defending champion New England Patriots.
“Coach made a statement a few days back, there’s no gray area. Alex (Smith) is our quarterback,” Veach said, via the team’s official website. “Alex is so far advanced from the mental side of things in regards to his ability to read coverages, to shift to better plays and really play the chess game. He’s so far ahead of what Pat (Mahomes) is. I don’t think it’s even close right now.
After completing 63 percent of his passes with four touchdowns and zero interceptions during the preseason, speculation heated up that Mahomes might end up ultimately giving Smith a challenge for the starting job at some point this year.
As it relates to the Chiefs, they have made it clear on numerous occasions that Smith is the team’s short-term solution at quarterback.
Speculation about Mahomes as a starter this season stems from the Chiefs yielding a first-round pick in next year’s draft to move up for him in April. With Smith’s supposed limitations on offense and Mahomes’ daynamic ability, it makes some sense.
Then again, Kansas City is in a situation where it will be competing for a conference title this season. Having the savvy veteran under center makes the most sense. That’s pretty much where the Chiefs stand on this heading into Thursday’s important early-season matchup against New England.