When Alex and the Chief's management agreed to a contract extension, both sides knew Alex could be released or traded in Feb. 2018 if Chiefs management have a suitable replacement lined up. Trading up to get Mahomes and see him prove himself in preseason satisfies the suitable replacement requirement.
If Alex isn't traded or released, it seriously reduces the value of Mahomes rookie contract because it eliminates the cap relief the Chiefs would receive by trading or releasing Alex. Alex balling out makes a trade more likely. A second day draft pick is preferable to a $20 million cap hit when Mahomes has shown outstanding potential to run AR's offense.
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