The four best values on the Kansas City Chiefs roster
By Jacob Milham
RG Trey Smith
2021 stats: 17 games, 17 starts, 10 AV
Contract: Four years, $3,610,708
2022 cap hit: $857,677
Cap hit rank: 120th amongst NFL guards
The 2021 Chiefs draft class is by far Veach’s best, by their rookie contributions alone. However, sixth-round pick right guard Trey Smith was the best value pick out of all of them.
Smith was a gifted prospect, hindered by a scary medical diagnosis. Several teams will write off a prospect altogether due to their medicals, but Kansas City is known to take a chance or two on such players. Smith, a fringe first-round prospect, fell to the Chiefs late in the draft’s Day 3. He did not make Kansas City regret the pick.
Smith starting all 17 regular-season games for the Chiefs surprised many, especially when he had two veterans ahead of him entering training camp. However, his run-blocking success and physicality transitioned immediately to the NFL. Smith was of the NFL’s best run-blocking guards in 2021 while showing promise in other facets.
At this point, Smith is an unquestioned starter for the Chiefs. He is only entering his sophomore year, but he has far outplayed his meager contract. Smith’s 10 AV ranked sixth on the team, ahead of big-money players like guard Joe Thuney and safety Tyrann Mathieu. In the grand scheme, Smith was Kansas City’s best bang-for-your-buck player in 2021.