The picture has been clarified a bit for Trey Smith's future: It's extension or free agency.
The Kansas City Chiefs face the potential loss of 20 or so free agents when the new league year begins in less than a month and the biggest potential void would be Smith's departure for another team. However, the Chiefs have reportedly decided against utilizing any sort of tag—franchise or transition—to retain their rights to employ him.
Nate Taylor of the Athletic says a contract extension is still a possibility but a source has told him that the tag is off the table. That means Smith is going to get the security and money he deserves.
The Chiefs will reportedly set aside any options to retain Trey Smith's rights as free agency nears.
Smith came into the NFL with medical red flags after blood clot issues surfaced while dominating at the University of Tennessee. Some teams removed him from their draft boards entirely and the Chiefs even passed him over for five rounds. However, in the sixth, they rolled the dice and received a day one starter at right guard who turned into a Pro Bowl performer in 2024 for pennies on the dollar.
Given that Smith has been playing on a slotted rookie deal for a late day three pick for the last few years, the lineman has likely been eyeing the chance to earn generational wealth with his looming free agency. And the Chiefs are apparently not going to stand in the way of that dream.
The Chiefs could be the team to reward him at this point, but it also appears to be a real conundrum either way given the cap constraints. The team has also committed sizable cap hits to the offensive line as it is with Jawaan Taylor at right tackle, Creed Humphrey at center, and Joe Thuney at left guard already playing on big-money extensions.
Smith, who is only 25 years old, has started 80 games for the Chiefs since he arrived in 2021.
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