Louis Riddick: Alex Smith Could Be Targeted by Jaguars, Bills If Chiefs Move On

Should the Chiefs attempt to trade starting quarterback Alex Smith, who's in the final year of his contract, this offseason, two AFC playoff teams could make a serious run at the two-time Pro Bowler.

ESPN's Louis Riddick reported Sunday (h/t the Buffalo News' Jay Skurski) the Jacksonville Jaguars and Buffalo Bills would consider acquiring Smith this spring.

Smith set career highs in both passing yards (4,042) and touchdowns (26) this past season, but he turns 34 in May. If the Chiefs release or trade Smith, then they'd save $17 million against $3.6 million in dead salary cap money, according to Over the Cap.

Patrick Mahomes started the final game of the regular season, and he's Kansas City's quarterback of the future.

Speaking with the Kansas City Star's Terez A. Paylor, Smith acknowledged the uncertainty about his future.

"Obviously, there's a lot of speculation out there on what’s going to happen, what could happen. I don't think anybody totally knows. ... I don't know that this is limbo, but if this is, it (stinks). But the one (good) thing is knowing that you put a good product out there, you feel good about it, and you know that hopefully, if it comes to (a trade), there is some place (for you)."

Despite both teams reaching the postseason in 2017, it wouldn't be a surprise if either the Bills or Jaguars went in a different direction at quarterback.

Buffalo hasn't shown a ton of confidence in Tyrod Taylor in recent years, and the team benched Taylor for fifth-round draft pick Nathan Peterman two months ago before going back to Taylor. 

Likewise, the Jaguars will have similar reservations about the long-term value of Blake Bortles. Although Bortles helped get Jacksonville to the AFC Championship Game, he was 15th among qualified quarterbacks in DYAR (defense-adjusted yards above replacement), according to Football Outsiders. Bortles hasn't shown a ton of improvement over his four years in the league, either.

Were the Chiefs to formally signal Smith is available to the highest bidder, the Jaguars and Bills would likely have more competition for the veteran passer.