Chiefs' Mahomes to start 1st game vs. Broncos

The Kansas City Chiefs will get a look at the future in Week 17.

Chiefs head coach Andy Reid announced Wednesday that rookie quarterback Patrick Mahomes will start the regular-season finale in place of Alex Smith. Kansas City has already secured a playoff spot and is locked into the fourth seed in the AFC.

"Fortunately we have a quarterback who understands it," Reid said of Smith, according to Terez A. Paylor of The Kansas City Star. "He's having an MVP-caliber year."

The Chiefs shockingly traded up to 10th overall in this year's draft to snag the big-armed gunslinger. Mahomes lit it up during preseason, throwing for 390 yards and four touchdowns with zero interceptions on 54 attempts across four games.

The rookie is widely expected to take over as the starter in 2018 despite Smith's career year this campaign.