NFL reporter says the feeling around the league on whether Trey Smith will re-sign with the Chiefs has 'shifted significantly'
Now that Super Bowl LIX is in the books, Kansas City Chiefs offensive lineman Trey Smith can shift his focus to his pending free agency. Smith, a former Tennessee Vols standout, is set to be a free agent in March after spending the first four seasons of his pro career with the Chiefs. The former […]
Now that Super Bowl LIX is in the books, Kansas City Chiefs offensive lineman Trey Smith can shift his focus to his pending free agency.
Smith, a former Tennessee Vols standout, is set to be a free agent in March after spending the first four seasons of his pro career with the Chiefs.
The former Vol is expected to become one of the highest paid offensive linemen in the NFL this offseason after starting 80 games at guard (including the playoffs) for the Chiefs over the last four seasons.
Numerous teams are expected to be interested in Smith, who will be the top available guard in free agency. The Chiefs could also choose to re-sign Smith to a lucrative deal.
The Chicago Tribune's Brad Biggs noted this week that around the midpoint of the season, the feeling around the NFL was there was "little chance" that Kansas City would fail to re-sign the Pro Bowl offensive lineman.
But according to Biggs, that feeling "shifted significantly" by the end of the season.
"I can tell you at the midpoint of the season, sentiment around the league was that there was little chance the Chiefs would allow Smith to depart," wrote Biggs. "That shifted significantly by the end of the season, with folks I chatted with expecting him to reach the open market. The Chiefs have to figure out what they’re going to do with linebacker Nick Bolton, defensive end George Karlaftis and cornerback Trent McDuffie eligible for contract extensions."
"It’s possible the Chiefs would use the franchise tag to orchestrate a tag-and-trade with Smith," continued Biggs. "But offensive tackles, guards and centers are all considered the same for tag calculations, so that’s a hefty number for an interior lineman. Based on what I’ve heard previously, I would say there’s still a good chance Smith becomes a free agent, and if he does, you can expect him to reset the market as the top-paid guard in the league."
It sounds like the expectation is that Smith will test the free agency market, where he'll likely receive a hefty multi-year deal.
Smith gave up just one sack during the 2024 regular season and the playoffs combined (that one sack came during the Chiefs' loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in the Super Bowl).
Former Tennessee Vols OL Trey Smith’s free agency decision is clear after Chiefs’ loss to Eagles in Super Bowl LIX
Should be an easy call for Trey Smith
