Dec 29, 2012; Bronx, NY, USA; West Virginia Mountaineers quarterback Geno Smith (12) warms up prior the 2012 New Era Pinstripe Bowl against the Syracuse Orange at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports

Quarterback Alex Smith was traded to the Kansas City Chiefs so that the Chiefs could position for a run in a competitive division.  They have six Pro Bowlers on their roster, they retained a number of quality starters, they positioned themselves well in free agency, and the Smith trade gave them a leg up in the quarterback mess that lower-end teams seem to get lost in.

So why are they all of a sudden interested in West Virginia QB Geno Smith?  Can he really be that good?  Well, according to Arrowhead Addict, the Chiefs are “fascinated” by Smith.  But it isn’t just editor Patrick Allen’s opinion either, Ian Rappoport gets in on the action and adds:

Chiefs scouts are deep in the process of evaluating Smith, and the word is they are fascinated by him. One scout compared the way he moves to a young Donovan McNabb, raving about how he’s thrown the ball in his workouts. Though they did trade for 49ers quarterback Alex Smith, the team wouldn’t think twice about having Geno Smith on the bench behind Alex Smith for a short amount of time if he were determined to be the top overall player.

When Dorsey was in Green Bay, the team did the same with Aaron Rodgers, who sat for three seasons behind Brett Favre.

While the analysis is sound, if speculative and a little wishful, I don’t see the Chiefs taking Smith.  I do, however, see them hyping him in order to leverage a trade.  A trade that could leave the Jacksonville Jaguars out in the cold as they look to improve what they have at the quarterback position.

The Chiefs have the ability to leverage their number one pick for Geno Smith much more than the Jags have the ability to leverage their number two pick.  If the Chiefs do manage to convince another team that they are going for Smith, then the Jaguars will likely have to fill another need – of which there are many – at number two overall.  Maybe the Chiefs simply do love Smith to go behind Alex Smith.  Alex Smith is certainly not Brett Favre, so it would put some pressure on them to get things right early.  We’ll know more as the NFL Draft gets closer.

- Luke N. Sims

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Two fundamentally different regimes. One believes that they are only a few pieces away. They have been very aggressive in free agency. I am of course speaking of the Kansas City Chiefs. Here is a list of their moves in no particular order:

Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

• Traded for QB Alex Smith
• Signed WR Dwayne Bowe
• OT Branden Albert franchised
• Signed CB Dunta Robinson
• Signed TE Anthony Fasano
• Signed QB Chase Daniel
• Signed WR Donnie Avery
• Signed DE Mike DeVito
• Signed CB Sean Smith
• Signed P Dustin Colquitt

Andy Reid is building The Dream Team Part Deuce and my goodness it’s impressive. Players lost (in no particular order):

• QB Matt Cassel (released, signed with Minnesota)
• OT Eric Winston (released)
• WR Steve Breaston (released)
• DE Glenn Dorsey (signed with 49ers)
• TE Kevin Boss (released)

They were able to add pieces at premium positions. Kansas City is taking a win now approach, and who can argue about the bevy of players they have signed? The Chiefs went big, and with the number one overall pick in this year’s draft, look out!

The Jaguars are…well…doing the exact opposite. They are building for the long term, and believe that a team is better built via the draft and college free agency using FA as a supplement only. Here is a list of their moves (in no particular order)

• Signed LB Geno Hayes

That is the only free agent the Jaguars have signed so far, but it’s a possibility they sign more. They’ll almost have to, but it won’t be a big splash like the Chiefs have made.

Following is a list of players lost:

Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

• WR Laurent Robinson (waived)
• S Dawaan Landry (released)
• CB Rashean Mathis (not offered contract)
• CB Derek Cox (signed with Chargers)
• DT Terrance Knighton (signed with Broncos)
• CB Aaron Ross (released then signed with Giants)

To be fair to both teams, I’m not including all the free agents that both the Jaguars and Chiefs will let walk. The Chiefs signed a few and are letting a number hit the free market and I know Jacksonville is letting all of theirs go. I’m not including more possible cuts either (see Cassel, Matt 3/14).

Jacksonville is planning on building through the draft, and I’m sure Kansas City is as well. Kansas City, however, is built to win now. Can they sustain long term success while accomplishing short term goals? It will definitely be interesting to see.

Some teams go heavy in FA while others rely more on the draft. All teams do both, and both are important. It’s just there’s no denying that some front offices have a particular preference over the other.

The Jaguars will have to draft not just effectively, but brilliantly.

So really what I’m getting at is which is more effective? Free agency or the draft? We won’t be able to tell with either team until about 3-4 years down the road, but it will certainly be interesting to see. I know that a lot can happen in that time span. Maybe the Jaguars become active in the free agency frenzy one year. Who knows? Both teams will have to stay on their current path for this “experiment” to work. If KC remain FA big money ballers and if JAX stays on the draft and develop course, then this has all the makings of being the best tortoise and hare story ever told.

-David R. Johns

Nov 25, 2012; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Matt Cassel (7) carries the ball against the Denver Broncos in the first half at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports

Yeah, this one is going to sound bad, really bad, especially in light of the Jacksonville Jaguars sending their big wigs to the West Virginia Pro Day to scout Geno Smith, but the Jaguars need to bring someone in to be push or beat out Blaine Gabbert and Chad Henne at quarterback.  Assuming Smith isn’t going to be the guy the Jags draft, Cassel becomes a pretty viable option.

Cassel was an overpaid player in Kansas City following one very good year filling in for Tom Brady in New England.  He did have one Pro Bowl season, 2010, when he tossed 27 touchdowns, just seven interceptions, 3,116 yards, and 58.2% of his passes were complete.  Other than that, Cassel has been a disappointment for the Chiefs.  He has never completed more than 60% of his passes while in Kansas City and he has never completed a full season.  He has only played in 18 games over the last two seasons as the Chiefs search for their answer at quarterback.  Being benched in favor of Brady Quinn may have been the final nail indication that Cassel’s time in Kansas City was over.

With the trade for Alex Smith complete, the Chiefs have now jettisoned Cassel and he is on the open market to be picked up by the highest bidder.  It is doubtful that teams offer Cassel anything near his six-year $62.7 million contract he signed with the Chiefs in 2009.  In a thin quarterback market, there will be offers, make no mistake.

While Cassel likely won’t be the cheapest option at quarterback, he would be an immediate upgrade as a backup over Chad Henne and he could really fight Gabbert for the starting role.  Cassel is 29-33 as a starter and has 82 touchdown passes to 57 interceptions.  If the Jags are looking for a player who has experience winning and being successful, Cassel could be their guy.  He is not the most accurate player in the league and teams should never again confuse him as a franchise quarterback, but if teams are looking for a player to be a bridge to the future, like the Jags sound like they are, then Cassel could be that guy.  He would have to beat out the quarterbacks already on the roster, but even if he is just there for depth, it would be an upgrade.  An unpopular upgrade, but an upgrade all the same.

Of course, this is all speculation and contemplation during an uncertain time of the NFL New Year.  There are seemingly inexhaustible options available including the young Josh Johnson who could be a great fit for the Jaguars.  Besides, sounds like Minnesota is the most likely landing spot.

- Luke N. Sims

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