Chiefs GM John Dorsey confirmed earlier today that the team has reached out to Alex Smith‘s representatives about a new long-term contract for the starting quarterback. Speaking further to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (Twitter link), Dorsey indicated that those discussions are ongoing. According to La Canfora, the Chiefs are putting “every effort” into locking up Smith to a long-term extension.
As Smith prepares to enter the final year of his current contract, the negotiations on a new deal should be interesting to follow. The 29-year-old’s current pact pays him about $9MM per year, and he has only strengthened his resumé since inking that deal, having led the 49ers and Chiefs to a combined 17-6-1 in his starts over the last two seasons. After setting career-highs in passing yards (3313) and touchdowns (23) in 2013, Smith looks poised to earn an eight-figure annual salary on his next deal, with a sizable chunk of guaranteed money. Still, with Smith currently set to earn a base salary of $7.5MM in 2014, an extension could reduce that number, benefiting the Chiefs by opening up a few million dollars in cap space.
In addition to discussing a new deal with Smith, the Chiefs haven’t dismissed the possibility of bringing back free agent tackle Branden Albert, according to Dorsey (link via ESPN.com’s Adam Teicher). A report last week suggested Kansas City would let Albert walk, replacing him with in-house options, but Dorsey said that’s the first he’s heard of it.
“We have ongoing conversations with all of our unrestricted free agents,” Dorsey said. “It just so happens we’ve had conversations with Branden’s representatives, and that’s the beauty of the combine. Those guys are here. We will continue to have conversations with those representatives as the combine passes.”
Despite Dorsey’s comments, it’s unlikely that the team reaches an agreement to retain Albert, writes Teicher.