AP Source: 49ers to Send Smith to KC Alex Smith quietly stayed behind the scenes after losing his job and watched from the sideline as San Francisco returned to the Super Bowl for the first time in 18 years. Yet the No. 1 overall draft pick from 2005 did make one thing known: The veteran quarterback still considers himself a starter. And he hoped to get that chance again. Now, he appears to have it. The Kansas City Chiefs have agreed to acquire Smith from the 49ers in the first major acquisition since Andy Reid took over as the team's new coach in early January, a person with knowledge of the trade told The Associated Press on Wednesday. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal cannot become official until March 12, when the NFL's new business year begins. Another person familiar with the swap said the 49ers will get a second-round pick in April's draft, No. 34 overall, and a conditional pick in the 2014 draft. After spending his first eight up-and-down years with the 49ers, Smith will get a new start. The Chiefs will get the proven play-caller they hope can help turn things around under a new coach much the way Smith did under Jim Harbaugh in San Francisco. "You never know when your opportunity's going to come," Smith said late in the season. The good ones are ready when they do come. FILE - In this Oct. 18, 2012 file photo, San Francisco 49ers quarterback Alex Smith (11) passes against the Seattle Seahawks during the second quarter of an NFL football game in San Francisco. A person with knowledge of the trade tells The Associated Press that the Kansas City Chiefs have agreed to acquire Smith from San Francisco. The person spoke on condition of anonymity on Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2013, because the trade does not become official until March 12, when the NFL's new business year begins. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez, File) Close Moving Smith was hardly unexpected. He realized it once Colin Kaepernick emerged as a capable starter over the season's final two months, and Smith all but said goodbye with his first pro team when he played briefly in the regular-season finale against Arizona to cheers of "Let's Go, Alex!" and "Alex! Alex!" from the Candlestick Park crowd. With Smith now headed for Kansas City, Matt Cassel is likely headed out of town. And Reid will enter his first draft as Chiefs coach in April no longer needing to search for a quarterback. The Chiefs' problems at quarterback are the single biggest reason they went 2-14 last season and secured the No. 1 pick in the draft for the first time in franchise history. Even memorable names such as Steve Bono, Elvis Grbac, Damon Huard, Tyler Thigpen and Tyler Palko haven't fared well with this franchise. And then there's Cassel. He was acquired by recently fired general manager Scott Pioli, and has two years left on a $63 million, six-year deal. He will likely be cut once Smith is acquired. Cassel was benched last season in favor of Brady Quinn, who also is a free agent after going 1-7 as the starter. If Smith can bring the steady form that defined his last two years, the Chiefs might be able to establish a much-needed consistency under center. They also found themselves a team-first player who led the 49ers through workouts during the 2011 lockout. Under the three-year contract he signed last March, Smith is guaranteed $1 million from the 49ers, and that would have become $8.5 million guaranteed - his 2013 salary - if he was still on their roster April 1. Smith thrived under 49ers coach and former NFL quarterback Harbaugh in one-plus season as the starter. Then, just like that, it all changed after he sustained a concussion. Last week at the NFL combine, Harbaugh praised Smith and reiterated just how strong San Francisco was with Colin Kaepernick as the starter and someone with Smith's credentials at backup. Yet everyone knew it was likely the 49ers would do their best to improve Smith's situation considering all he did for the franchise for nearly the past decade.