KC Chiefs rookie class enjoys strong training camp

Trey Smith

As the NFL Draft was coming to a close, Brett Veach decided to make the call and grab Tennessee Volunteers guard Trey Smith off the board despite potential future concerns with medical records in a draft in which gaining clarity was difficult due to COVID-19 restrictions. The sixth round was the ideal place for such a grab for the sake of value, but draft analysts and fans couldn’t believe that Smith had fallen even that far based on his immense natural talents.

Fast forward a few months and it turns out that outsiders were right. The idea that 32 NFL teams—the Chiefs included—passed over Smith for round after round after round (after round) seems outrageous even before the regular season has begun.

Smith looked like a real mauler in the spring after the Chiefs selected him, but training camp has elevated his status to new heights. Chris Jones just called him a stud this week, and he looks the part as a man child ready to overwhelm any lineman who wants to bring on a challenge in the gaps.

The Chiefs are looking at Smith as an obvious Week 1 starter by inserting him atop the depth chart at right guard above other players with proven resumes. Andrew Wylie, Laurent Duvernay-Tardif and others have starting experience at the pro level there, but Smith is holding down the spot without apologies. Unless something drastic happens, Smith will be there against the Cleveland Browns ready to prove his doubters wrong when it really counts.