The Facts: Days before the NFL season opens, Smith and the Chiefs struck a four-year, $68 million extension worth roughly $17 million per year that includes $45 million in guarantees.
Diehards Line:
Smith is entering his 10th season, and there were questions this offseason about whether the Chiefs wanted to pay him among the top-tier of NFL quarterbacks. Smith won the staring contest by not agreeing to an Andy Dalton/Colin Kaepernick pay-as-you-go deal. The up-front money indicates the Chiefs believe they found stability at the most important position for at least the next two years. Smith threw for a career-best 3,313 yards and 23 touchdowns last season, in his first year under Andy Reid.