Kansas City Chiefs: Perfect year to invest in QB of the future

For the Kansas City Chiefs, the 2017 NFL Draft could be the perfect place to find their quarterback of the future, especially in round one…

The Kansas City Chiefs have one of the best rosters in the NFL. When you look at their roster on paper, they really don’t have many major areas of need, which is a testament to the work that has been done by general manager John Dorsey.

Dorsey came over from the Green Bay Packers in 2013, and while the Chiefs have just one division title since Dorsey has been making calls (2016), there’s no question he has built one of the most competitive rosters in the NFL, and Kansas City seems very well-positioned for the future.

Even with some big money contracts on the books, the Chiefs have their core in-tact for the foreseeable future. That being said, Kansas City is positioned to make a big move in the 2017 NFL Draft for a quarterback, possibly in the first round. Andy Reid is known around the league as one of the best at developing the quarterback position, and he has a one or two-year cushion with Alex Smith.

Smith is under contract through the 2019 season, but carries only a $3.6 million dead money hit next year and a $20.6 million cap hit. The Chiefs may not be able to afford that, which is why this year could be the perfect time for them to go after a young guy.

Specifically, I think Clemson’s DeShaun Watson would be a great fit, but there are a number of different directions the Chiefs could go. I was listening to Daniel Jeremiah and Bucky Brooks of NFL.com discuss some fits for teams in the AFC West, and Watson to the Chiefs sounds like a great pairing.

The stars have aligned for Kansas City. Their roster is so talented right now, they can afford to take that flier on a first round quarterback, which is a good idea because it gives them a cost-effective option while they pay all of the studs on their defense.

Not to mention, Watson is an absolute stud, and if he were to fall to the bottom of the first round the Chiefs would be dumb not to take advantage of it.

Having this type of situation at quarterback is something Andy Reid would likely be in favor of, especially after letting go of Nick Foles this past offseason. The Chiefs don’t have a legitimate backup option right now in my opinion, and certainly not a future starter (post-Alex Smith) on the roster.

Watson is a guy who could come in and be a viable starter right away, but being able to sit and learn for a year or two under Smith could be really beneficial. I think this makes too much sense for the Chiefs if Watson is on the board.