​The Kansas City Chiefs are in an interesting predicament.





After ​mortgaging their future a bit, the team was able to make a massive jump in the 2017 NFL Draft up to the No. 10 pick to select Pat Mahomes from Texas Tech as their supposed QB of the future.





The second that the pick was announced, Alex Smith's days with the team were numbered, and quite a few fans and analysts believe that somehow, someway, Mahomes will take over the starting job by the end of the season.

Rookie Patrick Mahomes could take Alex Smith's starting job before end of the year



Hottest hot seat for every team https://t.co/eUQMEUxwqB pic.twitter.com/MJxby19VFI — Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) June 12, 2017

​​While that sounds like a stretch, it certainly begs the question, what will the Chiefs do once ​Mahomes is developed and ready to take over this franchise? To find the answer to that question, they should actually look at another perennial contender.





The Green Bay Packers found themselves in a similar situation quite a few years ago, with both Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers. Once Rodgers was ready, the team expected Favre to retire; however, when Favre came out of nowhere to keep playing, they had to act.





Some think the Chiefs are already making a similar move to force Smith out next season.

my conspiracy theory is the chiefs cut maclin so alex smith would have a worse year and they could start mahomes in 2018 or sooner — Hulkster In Hell (@Yelix) June 6, 2017

​​While the Packers were able to make the best of a bad situation and trade Favre away for a fourth-round pick, the Chiefs can learn from their mistakes and make the best out of this situation.





Kansas City needs to keep Smith alive and well while Mahomes develops, to make sure they can get the most out of him when the time comes for the switch. When that happens, the Chiefs should flip Smith to a contending team in need of a QB for a handsome reward.





Rather than create a toxic environment by forcing Smith out, the team can take what the Packers hoped to do, work out the kinks, and bring in a return while putting in their QB of the future.