The Kansas City Chiefs have a new backup quarterback in the building this offseason.
After spending 11 years with five different NFL clubs, Blaine Gabbert has returned to the state of Missouri to back up Patrick Mahomes with the Chiefs. With 115 games played during his career, Gabbert brings a certain veteran prowess to the quarterback room that only Mahomes shares.
Speaking to reporters following the team’s third OTA practice, Andy Reid delved into his first impressions of the former Mizzou standout.
“He’s smart. He’s bigger than I thought he was. (He’s) a big kid,” Reid said of Gabbert. “(He) throws the ball – (he has) a strong arm. (He) has developed a good relationship with Pat (Mahomes). (I) look forward to seeing when things are going fast (but) right now, he’s making sure he knows where everybody’s at and has it down. But you can tell he’s done it before.”
There was some expectation that after Chad Henne’s retirement, the Chiefs would move on from the structure of having a veteran backup quarterback on the roster. Asked whether he felt it was still necessary to pair a veteran with Mahomes in the quarterback room, Reid said that the decision has a bit more nuance to it.
“I don’t think it is. I don’t think it is,” Reid explained. “I would tell you that if you could find a good veteran player (and) something were to happen to Pat (Mahomes), if you have confidence in a guy that’s not a bad way to go just from experience sake at that spot. We saw that with Chad (Henne) when he had to play. He did a nice job with it, but I think we have a couple (of) good young guys, too, back there.”
With the NFL’s new rule allowing a third quarterback to suit up on gameday, it pays to have a good variety of talent at the position.
