ESPN' Adam Teicher believes it will be "difficult" for the Chiefs to maintain the same level of passing success they enjoyed down the stretch last season.

Alex Smith was quietly solid over the second half of 2013, passing for 217 yards and two touchdowns a game over his final seven. Smith is not the problem in Teicher's eyes, however. The Chiefs did nothing to address one of the weakest receiving corps in the league this offseason, instead hoping for a bounce-back season from Dwayne Bowe and the emergence of players like second-year TE Travis Kelce to bolster their toothless passing attack. It is unlikely to work. Smith remains an interesting fantasy asset because of his scrambling ability, but he may have hit his ceiling last season.

ESPN's Adam Teicher doesn't expect the Chiefs to offer Alex Smith more than $15 million annually.

Smith is seeking a contract similar to Jay Cutler ($18.1M per year), so it's a large gap to cover. The Chiefs have expressed interest in getting a deal done before training camp, but are willing to franchise Smith if a long-term contract can't be worked out. Smith is set to make just $7.5 million in the final year of his current deal. He set career highs and made the Pro Bowl in his first season with Andy Reid, but is likely going to have to settle for second-tier quarterback money.

Chiefs coach Andy Reid is confident the team will work out a long-term deal with Alex Smith.

"I don't think he's concerned and we're not," Reid said. "I'm sure it will get worked out down the road." There's going to be more back and forth in the media, but it would behoove both sides to figure something out before training camp.

Sources tell NFL Network's Ian Rapoport the Chiefs are willing to franchise tag Alex Smith in 2015 if no long-term contract is reached.

As there is no "second-tier" quarterback precedent, contract-year QBs Smith and Andy Dalton have reached crossroads with their respective teams, who aren't wiling to pay them "first-tier" money. It's no secret by now that Smith wants Jay Cutler money, or perhaps even more. (That's $18.1 million per year.) We still wouldn't be surprised if the sides reach a compromise before camp.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports contract-year QB Alex Smith is asking the Chiefs for "top-tier" quarterback money in an extension.

Hence the reason contract talks are "going nowhere," according to multiple reports. The Bears recently gave Jay Cutler an annual average of $18.1 million, and Smith is both younger and coming off of a better 2013 season than Cutler, all things considered. The National Football Post's Jason Cole tweeted Wednesday that Smith "wanted a deal above Jay Cutler" in January, and Cole "can't imagine that has changed." The Chiefs would be smart to let Smith play one more season under Andy Reid before breaking the bank to keep him. If Smith takes another big step forward, the franchise tag could come into play.

Updating an earlier item, the Kansas City Star reports extension talks between the Chiefs and Alex Smith have been "almost nonexistent in recent months."

ESPN's Ed Werder reported on NFL Insiders that there are "substantial differences" between what the Chiefs are willing to pay Alex Smith on a long-term contract, and what Smith expects.

Per Werder, there is now a "sense of pessimism" about a deal. If Smith wants Joe Flacco money, the Chiefs would be savvy to let him play out his contract year without an enormous financial commitment. Smith played better than expected in his first season with Andy Reid, but isn't a franchise quarterback.

Only 26 percent of Alex Smith's 2013 pass attempts traveled beyond the first-down marker, the lowest percentage in football last season.

Smith set career highs in TD passes (23) and yards (3,313), and made his first career Pro Bowl in his first season with Andy Reid, but for the most part remained Captain Checkdown. The Chiefs were the only team in football whose running back (Jamaal Charles) led them in targets, catches, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns. Smith did flash more aggressiveness in the intermediate to deep sections over the course of last season, but it's hard to imagine him taking a truly big step forward at age 30. He's a mid-range QB2 in fantasy leagues.

In a radio interview Chiefs GM John Dorsey expressed confidence the team and Alex Smith will get a deal done.

With Smith entering the final year of his deal, it was expected Kansas City would move quickly to extend the player they gave up two second-round picks for last offseason, but talks have progressed slowly. Still, Dorsey believes the deal will get done. "We're at that point now where we're going back and forth," Dorsey said. "Eventually, as (with) all negotiations, there will be a medium point where both sides agree." The most likely outcome is still that Smith signs an extension and is the Chiefs quarterback for the foreseeable future.

According to the NFL Network, the Chiefs will consider taking a quarterback in the first round of Thursday's draft.

Ian Rapoport reports that extension negotiations with Alex Smith "aren't progressing well," so the Chiefs are keeping their long-term options open at No. 23 overall. It's a wise leak to gain leverage in negotiations. Extending Smith could cost as much as $14-$17 million annually, while the cost to keep a first-round quarterback under club control for the next five seasons is relatively modest. Smith, who turns 30 years old Wednesday, is entering the final year of his current contract.

Profootballtalk reports extension talks between the Chiefs and Alex Smith are moving "very, very slowly."

PFT's Mike Florio expects talks to pick up after the draft, and for Smith to ultimately earn an extension worth $14-$17 million annually. That would be quite a payday for a player who was benched only a year and a half ago. Coming off the best season of his career, Smith turns 30 on May 7.

Speaking on a Tuesday conference call, GM John Dorsey said the Chiefs are having "ongoing" extension talks with Alex Smith.

However, Dorsey declined to offer a timeline for getting a deal done. Going on 30, Smith is due $7.5 million in the final year of his contract. Smith isn't the long-term answer in Kansas City, but a two-year extension could make sense for both sides.

Chairman Clark Hunt confirmed the Chiefs are interested in extending Alex Smith's contract.

Smith's current deal is set to expire after the 2014 season. "When we made the trade for him a year ago, that was part of the thinking," Hunt said. "I don't think that thinking has changed. He came in and did a nice job. We're glad to have him as a part of the Kansas City Chiefs and we hope it's longer than a two-year stay." The Chiefs are encouraged by the progress Smith showed as he got more comfortable in Andy Reid's scheme. Over the final eight games (including playoffs), he averaged 237.0 passing yards with 18 touchdowns and three interceptions.

The National Football Post's Jason Cole reports the Chiefs will try and extend Alex Smith's contract this offseason.

Smith is entering the final year of his contract and is set to make $7.5 million. He has a 30-9-1 record the past three seasons and helped the Chiefs go from 2-14 in 2012 to 11-5 and a Wild Card playoff berth in 2013, Smith's first season with Kansas City. Smith also set new career-highs in passing yards (3,313) and passing touchdowns (23) this past season. Smith isn't going to command a lengthy deal or a ton of guaranteed money, but a three- or four-year extension at $13-15 million per year would make some sense.

Alex Smith completed 30-of-46 passes for 378 yards, four touchdowns and zero interceptions in Kansas City's 45-44, Wild Card loss to the Colts.

Smith added eight rushes for 57 yards. He also lost a fumble. In many ways, it was the best game of Smith's career. He completed passes of 63 and 79 yards in the first half, and came up time and again with timely rushes. Missing Jamaal Charles (concussion) and Donnie Avery (concussion), however, Smith and the Chiefs offense went into a shell late, sputtering as the Colts completed a 28-point comeback. The Chiefs were out-scored 35-6 over the game's final 28 minutes. It was a bittersweet capper to a highly successful first season for Smith in Kansas City, where he posted new career highs in passing yards (3,313), rushing yards (431) and passing touchdowns (23). Smith is not a five- or six-year answer for Andy Reid's Chiefs, but he'll be back as a high-end QB2 in 2014.

Alex Smith and Jamaal Charles are among the Chiefs' Week 17 inactives.

They are both healthy scratches with the Chiefs locked into the AFC's No. 5 seed and nowhere to go up or down in the rankings. Chase Daniel is expected to start at quarterback, with Tyler Bray potentially getting some snaps. The rest of the Chiefs' Week 17 inactives are WR Dwayne Bowe, OLB Tamba Hali, LB Derrick Johnson, LT Branden Albert, and DT Dontari Poe.

Alex Smith completed 16-of-29 passes for 153 yards and two interceptions in Kansas City's Week 16, 23-7 loss to the Colts.

Smith was awful. His 41.3 passer rating was a season-worst. The Colts got to Smith for four sacks. Smith's first interception was a ball that popped up in the air after Robert Mathis hit the quarterback. His second pick was a terribly under-thrown touch pass to Anthony Fasano in the end zone. Both balls were picked off by ILB Jerrell Freeman. Smith's longest completion went for 19 yards. The 11-4 Chiefs are locked into the No. 5 seed in the AFC and will end their regular season in San Diego next Sunday.

Alex Smith's five touchdown passes in Sunday's win at Oakland traveled a combined 13 yards downfield.

The Raiders were absolutely inept against screen passes, leading to three Jamaal Charles touchdowns. Charles also scored a simple wheel route and Smith hit Sean McGrath on a quick slant for another score. The final stats for Smith (17-of-20, 287 yards, 5 TDs, 0 INTs) are impressive, but he didn't have to do a lot of work in this one. He remains a QB2 ahead of a Week 16 matchup with an inconsistent Colts defense.

Alex Smith completed 17-of-20 passes for 287 yards with five touchdowns and no interceptions in Sunday's Week 15 win at Oakland.

With the Chiefs winning 45-10, Alex Smith was pulled midway through the fourth quarter of Kansas City's Week 14 game against the Redskins.

Smith managed the game to perfection on a snowy day in Washington, completing 14-of-20 passes for 137 yards and two touchdowns. He added two rushes for seven yards. Smith simply didn't have to do much with the Chiefs' defense, running game and special teams dominating the pathetic Redskins. Smith will be a top-15 option for Week 15 against the Raiders.