Alex Smith’s inevitable departure from the Chiefs was unfurled Tuesday night, weeks before it can be made official, and that was in the best interests of all concerned.
It put an end to idle gossip and speculation about how soon and to where Smith would be traded, allowing the Chiefs to immediately begin in earnest putting all their energy into the transition to promising young quarterback Patrick Mahomes — whose selection at No. 10 overall in the 2017 NFL Draft started the clock on Smith’s expendability.
If this weren’t such an economic no-brainer, one that saves the franchise $17 million it can use to shore up any number of needs, there might have been a reasonable case to keep Smith after the best season of his career (4,042 yards, 26 touchdown passes and a passer rating of 104.