Five biggest player surprises for the 2021 Kansas City Chiefs

Trey Smith

Similar to center, the guard positions for the Chiefs have had turnover and inconsistency for years. The Chiefs began last year with Kelechi Osemele and Mike Remmers on the interior, but injuries sidelined Osemele for the season and eventually pushed Remmers to the outside.

After the debacle of Super Bowl LV, it was clear the Chiefs needed to infuse serious talent into the offensive line at all five positions. To solve the problem at guard they signed Joe Thuney and Kyle Long in free agency, and with Laurent Duvernay-Tardif returning, it appeared they’d have a much more talented unit. Then came the 2021 NFL Draft and the sixth round.

With the Chiefs on the clock at pick 226, an interesting option was presented to them. Tennessee offensive lineman Trey Smith, once considered a second-rounder at worst, was still on the board. Smith had an issue with blood clotting during his time in college, and thus it seemed most teams had taken him off their board.

Smith was extremely talented, both physically and mentally. It was too good an opportunity for the Chiefs to pass up, and they made Smith the newest addition to the team. The blood clotting issues were in fact a concern, but reportedly doctors had structured a regimen that allowed Smith to play a normal schedule.

Similar to Creed Humphrey, optimism was high that Trey Smith was a long-term steal. With Kyle Long’s injury in the preseason, Smith was thrust early into the starting lineup early and he has performed at an impressive level. Through eight games, he’s registering nearly a grade of 80 according to Pro Football Focus, making him the second highest-graded player on the Chiefs offensive line.

With Thuney signed to a long-term extension and Smith playing like a Pro Bowler, it looks like the Chiefs have locked up the interior of their line for the next four to five years at a minimum.