Chiefs Hit Trey Smith With The Franchise Tag

Chiefs Hit Trey Smith With The Franchise Tag

Trey Smith is one of the big fish out there on the free agent market. Rival teams were ready to buck up but that’s no longer the case. The former Tennessee product likely won’t be leaving KC now after being hit with the franchise tag.

Ian Rapoport of NFL Network was the first to report the news:

The #Chiefs are planning to franchise tag star guard Trey Smith, sources say. An intriguing move, as KC keeps one of its best players for $23.4M on a 1-year, fully guaranteed deal. pic.twitter.com/IOnctKg7WE

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 27, 2025

Smith, 25, could still technically leave KC. The Chiefs were in this exact same scenario last year. L’Jarius Sneed was hit with the franchise tag before he got sent to the Titans. That doesn’t mean the Chiefs will approach things with Smith like that but it’s worth noting the Chiefs aren’t exactly flush with cap space.

The $23.4 million price tag for Smith will surely take a hefty bite out of their cap space. Then again, I think we all saw what happened in the Super Bowl against the Eagles. KC needs more offensive line help, not less. Keeping Smith was obviously a priority.

The Chiefs will have until July 15th to work out a long term deal with the former sixth-round draft pick in 2021. If the two sides can’t get a deal done by then, Smith will play on the tag heading into the 2025-26 NFL Season.

Will The Chiefs Lose Trey Smith In Free Agency?

The Joe Thuney, Creed Humphrey, and Smith combo inside at the offensive line spot will remain in tact. What the Chiefs need now is to address their tackle issue. Jawaan Taylor is close to unplayable but that’s a story for another day.

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