Time is running out for the Kansas City Chiefs to extend starting right guard Trey Smith to a lucrative contract that would keep the veteran offensive lineman in Kansas City for years to come. The two sides have until the end of Tuesday to agree on a long-term deal; otherwise, 2025 will be a contract year for Smith.
Smith was handed the franchise tag on February 28, which he signed on March 9. If he plays on the tag, Smith will make $23.4 million fully guaranteed if he doesn’t sign a long-term deal before July 15 – the NFL’s annual deadline by which to agree to an extension with a franchise-tagged player.
This means Smith will hit the open market in Spring 2026, which would be less than ideal, since Smith won’t have many opportunities to receive his big payday. Playing one more year without a deal that locks up his future puts Smith at risk of hurting his re-sign value going into 2026. Especially, if he were to get injured or have a down year, it would prevent him from making as much money as possible right now.
For the Chiefs, the pressure is on them as well. With both tackle positions up in the air and being tasked with finding a viable replacement at left guard, the last thing the club wants is to find a new right guard as well. Re-signing Smith would for sure be in their best interest.
Smith says he isn’t sweating his contract situation, however. In an interview with FanDuel’s “Up and Adams” with Kay Adams, Smith says his focus is on preparing for training camp at St. Joe.
“I leave it to the hands of my agents,” Smith said of any potential contract negotiations. “Obviously, the front office staff of the Chiefs are elite, and you know, at the end of the day, I just let them take care of it. I just have to focus on being the best version of myself, being the best football player, and being prepared for training camp because St. Joe’s is around the corner.”
Right now, it’s unclear if a long-term deal will come to fruition between the two sides. Kansas City has a projected $10.9 million in cap space remaining for the 2025 NFL season. Extending Smith could create more, as the team could try to lower his $23.4 million cap hit for the upcoming season.
Since entering the NFL as the Chiefs’ 6th-round draft choice in 2021, Smith quickly made a name for himself as one of the most physical interior linemen in the league, helping lead the Chiefs to three AFC Championships and two Super Bowl victories.
