Kansas City Chiefs Need to Trade Alex Smith & Jamaal Charles to Rebuild The Roster
Has there ever been a more devastating loss in a Week 2 game?
For the seventh consecutive game, the Denver Broncos defeated the Kansas City Chiefs, this time scoring two touchdowns in the final minute. The Chiefs turned the ball over five times, and blew a 14-point lead at home to the defending AFC West champions. The Broncos have won this division the last four seasons, and even though it's only Week 2 they are already off to another solid start.
If the Chiefs were ever going to finally beat the Broncos, that was the game. They were at home, the Broncos offensive line is in transition, and they were coming off a win. But, the Chiefs offense once again let down their fans.
Having said that, it's time for owner Clark Hunt to just rebuild this team and prepare for the future.
The harsh reality is, the Chiefs aren't going to win the AFC West this year. They probably won't even make the playoffs for the fourth time in the last five years. Every NFL franchise has that moment where you just have to look in the mirror and say,"it's time to rebuild." It's that time for the Chiefs, who honestly do have some of the best (and loudest) fans in sports.
It starts with Alex Smith. Smith, a former No. 1 overall pick, just hasn't lived up to that draft selection in the NFL. His deep throws are getting considerably worse. As we've heard a million times, the Chiefs haven't thrown a touchdown pass to a wide receiver in over a year now. That's completely unacceptable in a league that protects quarterbacks and wide receivers like never before.
Smith still has four years and $50 million left on his contract. Trading him away for draft picks would be a very wise decision. Smith isn't Peyton Manning, and there's no shame in that, but he's never going to be "that guy." In Thursday's game he had the perfect opportunity to prove the doubters wrong, but laid an egg with two turnovers, a mediocre 191 passing yards, and zero touchdowns. Smith's QBR in that game was an atrocious 7.4.
Smith has now become the Jay Cutler of the AFC. He can't beat Manning like Cutler can't beat Aaron Rodgers, and it's glaringly obvious. Smith is now 0-5 against Manning and the Broncos since becoming the Chiefs starter. Smith is also 0-7 against Manning overall in his career going back to his San Francisco 49ers days. The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, but expecting different results. Smith isn't getting better any time soon.
There's plenty of teams who would be willing to acquire Smith's overpaid contract. Teams such as the Cleveland Browns, Houston Texans and Jacksonville Jaguars would more than likely take a risk on him.
The other player who the Chiefs have to consider shopping is star running back Jamaal Charles. Charles has been the only great offensive player for the Chiefs recently as he has eclipsed the 1,000 yard rushing mark in five of the last six seasons. However, the Chiefs haven't been able to win anything meaningful even with Charles on the roster. Trading Charles away for draft picks and players could pay off big time, like we saw with the Dallas Cowboys and Herschel Walker to the Minnesota Vikings in 1989. That's not to say that Charles hasn't done his job, it's just there's no point in keeping him and his contract on a losing team when you can value and rebuild.
Charles' contract expires at the end of the 2017 season. Could there be a chance that Jerry Jones may want to bring in another former Texas running back? The Chiefs should more than entertain that idea as the Cowboys have plenty of draft picks to offer and they play in a completely separate conference. As good and explosive as Charles is, he is expendable, as is every running back.
Defensively the Chiefs definitely have something. Justin Houston and Tamba Hali create an elite pass rush, and the secondary is slightly improving. However, the offense needs a complete makeover from top to bottom. The 2015 trade deadline isn't until Nov. 3, but the Chiefs should start making roster moves now.
Follow Damon Salvadore on Twitter @DamonSalvadore1