It wasn’t Trey Smith’s talent that was called into question. Instead it was questions about his ability to utilize that talent in future seasons.
Over the course of the recent 2021 NFL Draft, Trey Smith fell several rounds beyond what draft analysts and experts had projected for him given his talent level. In fact, after day two had come and gone without hearing his name called, the offensive lineman from Tennessee made it clear that he was going to use his falling draft status as future motivation.
Will never forget
— Trey Smith (@treysmith) May 1, 2021
The Chiefs ended his precipitous fall in the sixth round when they submitted his draft card at No. 226 overall. Just like a handful of draft prospect every year, the medical questions and concerns that were included on his college records clouded his talent enough that other teams decided to go with 225 other prospects before the Chiefs shifted their attention to Smith. It was likely made worse this year in a COVID-impacted season in which some teams maybe could not get a clear enough picture to take a chance.
The Chiefs aren’t concerned about Trey Smith’s medical status.
For the Chiefs, however, they feel “completely comfortable” with where Smith is at these days physically. According to Mike Borgonzi, director of football operations, who spoke to the media after the draft, the team is not concerned with Smith’s physical status.
“Obviously he’s a very good football player. Y’know, he’s one of the top guards in the country for the last couple years. Our medical staff with Rick Burkholder fully vetted the situation so we feel completely comfortable where he’s at medically to play for us. We’re just really excited to add him to the roster here.”
Smith originally missed some time at Tennessee after his freshman year when blood clots were discovered in his lungs. It was the second such showing after receiving an initial diagnosis of the same during the previous winter. Doctors had cleared him medically to play that fall but the resurfacing forced him to miss some time. Even after that, however, Smith ended up being completely healthy for each of the last two seasons and was a second-team All-American this year for the Vols.
Smith faces significant competition coming into the roster at this point with so many veterans vying for so few spots, but the Chiefs have done a great job of rebuilding the offensive front after their loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Super Bowl LV. Smith looks like he could be a long-term option at guard, but for now, he might have to sit and learn from the likes of Joe Thuney, Andrew Wylie, Kyle Long, and Laurent Duvernay-Tardif.