Kansas City Chiefs all-time best NFL Draft picks by round
By Jacob Milham
Round 6: Guard Trey Smith
This may be too soon, but the Chiefs have not had great luck drafting in the sixth round. Offensive guard Trey Smith is the diamond Kansas City found in the rough.
Coming out of Tennessee, Smith was a cautionary draft prospect. He was diagnosed with blood clots in his lungs during his sophomore year at Tennessee. This life-threatening condition forced him to miss the remainder of the season and raised doubts about his football future. Smith returned for his junior and senior seasons, earning All-SEC First Team honors after moving to left guard. The talent was there, but the medical condition scared away some NFL teams.
The Chiefs took Smtih with the 226th overall pick in the sixth round, allowing him to fulfill his NFL dreams. Smith has not made Kansas City regret the pick one bit. He won the right guard starting job leading up to his rookie season and has held that role ever since. Smith earned PFWA All-Rookie Team honors in 2021, making himself a lineman to watch. He has only missed one game since coming to the NFL.
Smith has given back to his community, dating back to his college days. He organized a coat drive in 2018, during which more than 1,000 coats were donated over five days. Since entering the NFL, Smith has worked with Big Brothers Big Sisters of East Tennessee and United Healthcare to assist the Knoxville community.
It feels very soon to make this judgment call, but not every team finds an immediate starter in the sixth round. Smith is a special player and already has a Super Bowl ring. His legacy in Kansas City can only grow from here.
Honorable Mentions: OL Zach Fulton, OL Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, DT Tom Barndt