Trey Smith off to ‘good start’ for KC Chiefs

The K.C. Chiefs already had an impressive group of players set to compete at right guard before the 2021 NFL Draft got underway. With a number of veterans, the right side of the line was bound to look better than it did in 2020, even without injuries, but the Chiefs couldn’t help but select a likely steal in the sixth round when Tennessee offensive lineman Trey Smith was still sit-in there for the taking.

As the Chiefs continue their spring workouts and offseason training activities, Smith is already turning heads of the team’s coaching staff in his first few weeks with the team. Smith was declared an incredible value by most draft analysts when he was first selected, and so far the mammoth lineman is looking the part. Chiefs offensive line coach Andy Heck had plenty of praise for both Smith’s potential and his present efforts this offseason so far.

"“I think that Trey has the [potential to be] a starting guard in his future. How fast will that come? That’s difficult to predict, but he has all the physical and mental tools that you [need],” Heck said. “He loves football, he loves to compete and he’s an extremely physical person – these things jump out at you when you watch the tape. Now, how fast can be learn our system? We’ll see, but he’s certainly off to a good start and he’s working very hard at it.”"

Any prospect taken as late as the sixth round is a flyer, a player who should be viewed as a positive asset if he even makes the team’s final 53-man roster. Smith felt like a better player than that to most fans heading into draft weekend, so perhaps it’s not as surprising to hear such praise from Heck at this point, but suffice it to say that no one should have expected anyone from that round to be discussed so early in a starting capacity—either now or later.

If the Chiefs are able to find a long-term starter at right guard in Smith, then it would provide significant value not only via the draft investment made as a sixth round pick but Smith’s contract would certainly balance out the heavier spending on the left side, especially as Joe Thuney’s big money kicks in next season and Orlando Brown Jr. earns a long-term contract.

Still, Smith likely has a lot to learn, and Heck wasn’t ready to proclaim him as anything more than a player with the tools. In his way toward any legitimate playing time are several veterans looking to make an impact of their own. Kyle Long was brought out of retirement and has a lot to prove to make the team himself. Andrew Wylie is the incumbent starter from ’20, while Laurent Duvernay-Tardif wants to reclaim his starting role before sitting out last season due to COVID-19.