The Chiefs QB Dilemma

As I sit here watching the Kansas City Chiefs' 2012 season mercifully come to an end, I have a hard to imagining 2013 being a whole lot better. The team was embarrassing and will likely make changes to the coaching staff and hopefully the front office, but this team isn't going to make any significant leap without an upgrade at quarterback.

The problem, of course, is that there aren't any significant upgrades at quarterback available. The Chiefs picked the wrong year to be horrible. Last year, there was a great draft class, and Peyton Manning was out there. Now? It's slim pickin's.

Among free agents, there's Joe Flacco, who is very likely to stay in Baltimore you would think. If for some reason he doesn't, the Chiefs would have to go after him. For all of his flaws, he's way better than anyone in KC right now.

After that on the free agent list? Jason Campbell, Matt Moore, Drew Stanton, Kellen Clemens, and Chase Daniel. Yuck. I know Daniel has fans in KC after his Mizzou days, so maybe fans would like to see him brought in as a backup. But there are no guys in that group who are definitely upgrades from Matt Cassel.

Beyond that, the free agent list gets hilarious: Matt Leinart, Byron Leftwich, David Carr, Tyler Thigpen, Charlie Batch, Rex Grossman, Tarvaris Jackson, and... Vince Young. Barf.

So, what about trades? Some of these guys might just get released, but their teams may try to trade them first.

Benched in San Francisco, Alex Smith might actually
be the best quarterback available in a weak offseason.

Alex Smith is the first name out there. The 49ers are clearly ready to go with Colin Kaepernick for the future. Barring a career-ending injury to Kaepernick in the playoffs, the 49ers are likely to shop Smith. I've spoken before about how I thought Smith arrived last year. He was playing well, albeit not spectacular, before losing his job this year. The obvious concern is that he would struggle to adjust to a new system, just like he did in each of his first six years in the league. The fear of regression is big with Smith, but he sadly may be the best option out there. That means someone (maybe the Jets, maybe the Cardinals) will overpay to get him. KC, though, should see what the cost is. Plus, it would continue KC's long tradition of picking up former 49ers quarterbacks over and over again.

Michael Vick has obviously worn out his welcome in Philadelphia. His contract is enormous, and any team would be foolish to trade for him and absorb that deal. If he's released and you can get him for dirt cheap, maybe you consider it. His numbers are down, and his injuries are up, though. He's not a great option anymore. Better than Cassel and Quinn, though? Probably.

Matt Flynn was in demand a year ago as a free agent.

Seattle's Matt Flynn is an interesting case. A lot of teams were interested in him last year, and Seattle won out by giving him a modest three-year, $26 million contract (only about $10 million guaranteed). That's not ridiculous money if the Chiefs (or any team) wants to absorb that contract. At the same time, it wouldn't hurt Seattle to keep him as a backup for two more years, then let him go when it's time to negotiate a new deal for Russell Wilson. The concern obviously is about how good Flynn really is. Is the fact that he lost his job after getting a free agent deal a condemnation on him or just a credit to how good Wilson is? I think the risk of acquiring Flynn would be low. If it doesn't work out, his price tag is modest and you can go hunting for another QB when there's a stronger draft class.

The Jets are going to dump Mark Sanchez. No, Chiefs. No! He may actually be worse than Cassel and Quinn.

Tim Tebow is also going to be out there. I've made my opinion clear on Tebow. Great guy, not a great QB. Certainly not worth the media circus ESPN would bring. Good luck in Jacksonville, buddy.

The only other decent QB I could possibly see being traded is Kirk Cousins, but I think Washington hangs onto him while he's cheap. They'll trade him down the line before he becomes a free agent, though (assuming Griffin continues to play like he has).

Barkley's stock has fallen, but he does have talent.

As for the draft, the Chiefs obviously have to take someone. No, there is no one who is highly rated like Griffin or Andrew Luck or even Ryan Tannehill. There are guys worth taking a chance on in the second or third rounds, though. Matt Barkley was once the golden boy at USC. Maybe he excels in the right system as a pro. Based on how other USC quarterbacks have fared in the NFL, though, don't get your hopes too high. Plus, his recent shoulder injury is another concern. Is he worth that second round pick, though? Maybe.

Geno Smith might also be worth taking if the Chiefs either trade down from number one or trade up from the that first pick in the second round. He has a big arm and could be something, but he also disappeared at times this year, especially in bad weather. He's a risk as a high first rounder in my opinion. Late first/early second? Okay, sure.

Then there are guys like Landry Jones, Mike Glennon and Tyler Wilson who could be anything. There's just no way to tell.

The bottom line, though is that the Chiefs have to clean house at quarterback and bring in three new guys somehow: trade, free agency, draft, or some combination of the three. They can't go another year with the current crop. Unfortunately, the options available aren't promising. But maybe just the slightest upgrade can make this team watchable again.