INDIANAPOLIS — San Francisco 49ers general manager Trent Baalke recently had dinner with Alex Smith, ostensibly to discuss the possibility of trading the backup quarterback.

With Colin Kaepernick entrenched as the team's starter, the sit-down could have been the 49ers' version of the last supper with Smith, who could be viewed as a viable trade option for quarterback-starved teams like the Kansas City Chiefs, Arizona Cardinals, Oakland Raiders, Buffalo Bills and New York Jets.

There is not a consensus No. 1 quarterback in the 2013 draft class.

ALL-JOE: Alex Smith captains USA TODAY Sports' 21st annual team

FOREIGN INVASION: NFL talent flowing in from atypical sources

BELL: Is Manti Te'o really even that good?

Smith, who is heading into his ninth season, is due $8.5 million in 2013, including $6.5 million guaranteed if he remains on the San Francisco's roster after April 1. His compensation is palatable for an NFL starting quarterback but not for someone holding a clipboard.

"I was out to dinner with Liz (Smith's wife) and Alex when we got back from the Super Bowl,'' Baalke said inside the Lucas Oil Stadium media interview room at the scouting combine Thursday. "We had a great conversation, great dinner. Just a chance to sit down with him and go through what our thoughts were and listen to what their thoughts were as a family and really get an understanding of what direction we wanted to go.

"Are we going to trade him for sure? No, that hasn't been decided.''

The six-day combine is an ideal place for trade talks to heat up, however.

PHOTOS: USA TODAY Sports' All-Joe team

Chiefs general manager John Dorsey has said there "is no clear-cut quarterback'' on his team as the new regime of Dorsey and coach Andy Reid seek answers beyond Matt Cassel and Ricky Stanzi. Brady Quinn is a free agent.

However the Chiefs have not drafted a quarterback in the first round since picking Todd Blackledge seventh overall in 1983, the longest Round 1 QB drought in the league.

Smith suffered a concussion Nov. 11 against the St. Louis Rams. Kaepernick took over and played so well that 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh never put Smith back into the starting lineup, even though Smith was among the league's leading passers at the time.

"He is a pro's pro," Baalke said of Smith. "We're certainly going to do everything in our power to make the best decision.''

The jury is out on Randy Moss, too.

When asked at the Super Bowl, 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh said that, if it were up to him, Moss would "definitely" return for another season in San Francisco. But Baalke said no decision has been made about the 36-year-old wide receiver.

"Randy's a pro, and I can't say enough good things about Randy," Baalke said. "And I think if you ask anyone within our organization, they would say the same thing. One of the first guys to work every day, one of the last to leave. I mean, a guy that takes great care of his body, is probably one of the smartest football players -- if not the smartest football players -- I've been around. He grasped the offense very quickly, and was a real leader in that group and that room.

"So, we're certainly happy that he was there. Is he going to return this year? I don't know that yet."

While lauded by teammates and coaches for his leadership, Moss had only 28 catches for 434 yards and three touchdowns. His status probably will be affected by the return of wide receiver Mario Manningham from a knee injury and the maturation of A.J. Jenkins, who didn't catch a pass as a rookie after being chosen in the first round.

***

Follow Jim Corbett on Twitter @ByJimCorbett

PHOTOS: 25 hot NFL free agents