{"id":29527,"date":"2025-02-28T09:28:17","date_gmt":"2025-02-28T09:28:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/?p=29527"},"modified":"2025-02-28T09:28:17","modified_gmt":"2025-02-28T09:28:17","slug":"breaking-chiefs-plan-to-franchise-tag-guard-trey-smith","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/?p=29527","title":{"rendered":"BREAKING : Chiefs plan to franchise tag guard Trey Smith."},"content":{"rendered":"
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The Kansas City Chiefs aren’t letting\u00a0Trey Smith\u00a0reach free agency unfettered.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The Chiefs plan to franchise tag the guard, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported, per sources informed of the situation.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The one-year tender is expected to be worth $23.4 million, Rapoport added, which would make Smith the highest-paid guard in NFL history, leapfrogging\u00a0Landon Dickerson’s $21 million-per-year\u00a0contract.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Sides have until\u00a0July 15\u00a0to hammer out a long-term solution, or Smith would play 2025 on a one-year deal.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

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On Tuesday, Chiefs general manager Brett Veach noted that he was “optimistic” a long-term deal with Smith could be struck. Rapoport reiterated that remains the hope despite using the tag.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The fact that the Chiefs needed to utilize the franchise tender ahead of the March 4 window closing could indicate that a deal won’t come as soon as Veach hoped. However, ensuring their starting guard doesn’t hit the open market is step one in reaching a long-term pact.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
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Smith allowed just one sack and 34 QB pressures in 2024, per Pro Football Focus. Despite the Chiefs’ interior O-line getting attacked after the moving\u00a0Joe Thuney\u00a0outside, Smith was\u00a0poised to be the top guard\u00a0hitting the open market.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Now, that honor falls elsewhere.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Teams hoping to ink Smith — like Chicago — will have to take a different route. The move underscores that high-quality offensive linemen rarely hit unencumbered free agency.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Last year, the Chiefs franchise tagged cornerback\u00a0L’Jarius Sneed\u00a0and eventually\u00a0traded him\u00a0to Tennessee, which\u00a0signed the CB\u00a0to a long-term deal. K.C. seems more likely to keep Smith around this time around. However, the Chiefs now have a boatload of money tied up in the offensive line.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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In addition to Smith being the top-paid guard,\u00a0Creed Humphrey\u00a0is the highest-paid center ($18 million per year). Thuney makes $16 million per season but has no guaranteed dollars left, making him a candidate for adjustment.\u00a0Jawaan Taylor\u00a0is the third-highest-paid right tackle in football, making $20 million annually. Then there is the gaping hole at left tackle that caused the Chiefs’ blocking woes in 2024.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Kansas City Chiefs aren’t letting\u00a0Trey Smith\u00a0reach free agency unfettered. 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