KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Here is this week’s edition of the Kansas City Chiefs mailbag. To ask a question for a future edition, send it to me via Twitter (@adamteicher) and tag it #ChiefsMail.
@adamteicher How confident are you? Chiefs playing backup QB, the two teams we need to lose are facing third string QB #ChiefsMail
— Cory Brockert (@daddyC67) December 26, 2014@adamteicher: Things don't look good for the Chiefs with regard to getting into the playoffs. I still think the Chiefs have a reasonable shot to beat the Chargers even though Chase Daniel will start at quarterback instead of Alex Smith. But that's the easy part. They need the Jacksonville Jaguars to beat the Texans in Houston and the Cleveland Browns to beat the Ravens in Baltimore. I'm not sure either of those games will be even competitive. The Texans and Ravens are favorites by more than a touchdown.
@adamteicher ..why would KC not IR Smith? Allows organization to add an extra guy to roster in some form. He wouldn't be available next week
— jmccarty1982 (@McCarty1982) December 26, 2014@adamteicher: The Chiefs have retained Smith on their active roster for the time being, though as I write this they could still place him on injured reserve in time for Sunday's game. The plan was to carry him on their roster in case they make the playoffs and win a game or two. That way, he could conceivably return if they need him. I get your point but I agree with the Chiefs that holding him on the roster is more important than adding somebody at this point. He will be one of their seven inactive players on Sunday. They could always make a change next week if they make the playoffs.
With news that Smith is out, let's do final regular season Chiefs mailbag. Send your questions to me with tag #ChiefsMail
— Adam Teicher (@adamteicher) December 26, 2014@adamteicher: Daniel will start at QB with rookie Aaron Murray as the backup. The Chiefs are trying to win on Sunday, so they're going with the player they think gives them the best chance to win.
@adamteicher Who are the Starting WR's for this Sunday? #ChiefsMail
— Jantzen Leach (@JLguitar7) December 26, 2014@adamteicher: It should be Dwayne Bowe and Albert Wilson.
@adamteicher Odds D Bowe playing with Chiefs next season? #ChiefsMail
— Jscott (@JamieScott13) December 26, 2014@adamteicher: I wouldn't think they're very good with the contract he has right now. He would cost the Chiefs $14 million under their cap. They can find a receiver who can give them what Bowe has the last two seasons for a lot less than that. If he's willing to accept a pay cut, he has a chance to play for the Chiefs again.
@adamteicher how many draft picks do the chiefs have next yr and what rounds do they have extra pics in? #ChiefsMail
— Nick Meyer (@nckmyr) December 26, 2014@adamteicher: We'll know this sometime over the winter. The Chiefs are expecting several compensatory picks because of the free agents they lost last year (Branden Albert, Geoff Schwartz, Jon Asamoah, Dexter McCluster and Tyson Jackson are the main ones). But unless they trade a few noncompensatory picks away they'll have more this year than they've had in some time.
@adamteicher #ChiefsMail Is it worth considering trading JHouston for a boatload of picks? Keep Hali/Ford and replenish Oline and WR...
— Robert Smith (@RSmithInc) December 26, 2014@adamteicher: I'd prefer to keep Justin Houston instead of having the draft picks, depending on what the offer is, of course. He's only 25 and should have many good seasons ahead of him. I don't think another team would offer enough. It's rare to see someone trade a lot of draft picks for a player who wants a premium contract.